Biodegradation of polyethylene by microorganism isolated from garbage soil
Rupa Guha Nandi, Mamta Joshi and Khyati Shriwastva
Department of Biotechnology Sri Sathya Sai College for Women, Bhopal (India) orjitnandi@gmail.com, joshimamta2011@gmail.com, khyati.shri@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Polyethylene being xenobiotic compounds, resistant to degradation, constitute about 5-8 percent of dry weight of municipal solid waste. Polyethylene are resistant to biodegradation, leading to pollution, harmful to the natural environment. The objective of the research project is to isolate such a microorganism which are isolated from garbage soil and had the ability to degrade Polyethylene. Municipal Corporation in many constricts view the carry bags as the chief culprit behind the environmental pollution. Biodegradation of polythene were analyzed after 4, 6 and 8 months of incubation. The microbial species found associated with the degrading materials are Pseudomonas species (Gram negative) and three species of fungi (Aspergillus glaucus, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger). Among the bacteria Pseudomonas species degraded 22.70% of polythene in four months period. Among the fungal species, Aspergillus glaucus degraded 26.02% of polythene in four months period. Study of enzyme responsible for the degradation of plastics and its extraction will be observed later. This work reveals that microorganism isolated from garbage soil are capable of degrading polythene.