T.M. Chandramouli Swamy, S.V. Nagarathna, Pooja V. Reddy and Anand S. Nayak*

Department of Biochemistry, Gulbarga University, Kalaburagi-585106 India *Corresponding author : +91 9448441952 anandsnayak@gmail.com*

ABSTRACT

Due to our intense dependence on plastic and plastic products, production of these materials is increasing day by day, which in turn is driving up the production of raw materials needed for manufacturing. Polyethylene terephthalate {PET} is one such type of plastic that is used extensively these days for packaging, bottle manufacture, and other purposes. The main component of PET plastic is terephthalic acid. Terephthalic acid is produced from p-xylene by oxidation with oxygen, it is regarded as an endocrine disruptor. Because of the discharge of effluent waste from the terephthalic acid producing factories, plastic manufacturing industries and by the continuous exposure of PET plastic toenvironment, due toweathering and leaching there is a gradual release of constituents to the environment. This poses a serious risk to human health and the ecosystem. The necessity to regulate this pollution is imperative. The most promising and unaffected technique of deterioration among the several types is the biological method rather than the conventual methods. Here we are going to demonstrate the degradation of terephthalic acid by an isolated bacterial culture, Gordonia sp. CN2K. Degradation of terephthalic acid was confirmed by the growth of bacterium on terephthalic acid as a sole source of carbon and energy and by the analysis of spent medium through HPLC. The strain has capacity of degrading 97.53% of terephthalic acid in 48 h, as a sole source of carbon and energyand completely mineralize it.

Key words : Catalytic efficiency. Gordonia CN2K, pollution, Terephthalic acid.

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