Efficient biodegradation of low-density polyethylene by Pseudomonas plecoglossicida SYp2123 was observed through FT-IR and FE-SEM analysis

• Published in: Biotechnology and bioprocess engineering Vol. 29; no. 4; pp. 743 - 750
• Main Authors: Kim, Ye-Jin, Kim, Yeon-Hwa, Shin, Ye-Rim, Choi, Su-Yeong, Park, Jeong-Ann, Kim, Hyun-Ouk, Lim, Kwang Suk, Ha, Suk-Jin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Seoul The Korean Society for Biotechnology and Bioengineering 01.08.2024; Springer Nature B.V; 한국생물공학회
• Subjects: agar; Biodegradation; Biotechnology; carbon; Carbon sources; carboxylic ester hydrolases; Cell culture; Cell density; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Decomposition; Density; electron microscopy; Environmental degradation; food chain; Food chains; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; Fourier transforms; Industrial and Production Engineering; Infrared spectroscopy; Low density polyethylenes; Metabolic pathways; Microorganisms; Plastics; Plates; Polyethylene; Pseudomonas; Pseudomonas plecoglossicida; Research Paper; Scanning electron microscopy; Strains (organisms); Waste treatment; wastes; 생물공학; Biodegradation; Field-emission scanning electron microscopy; Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy; Low-density polyethylene
• ISSN: 1226-8372; 1976-3816
• DOI: 10.1007/s12257-024-00108-3

Plastics have been consistently produced for their practicality and convenience; however, unmanaged plastics often end up in the ocean and decompose into nano-plastics through photolytic decomposition and weathering, negatively affecting marine life. This can eventually affect humans via the food chain, highlighting the need for effective solutions. Microbial biodegradation has been proposed as a solution to minimize the impact of nano-plastics on the environment, and degradation byproducts can be used in microbial metabolic pathways. In this study, 57 bacterial strains were isolated and identified from a waste treatment facility. Bacterial strains with lipase activity were selected on Tween80 agar plates. Additionally, strains capable of growing on minimal salt agar plates supplemented with low-density polyethylene (LDPE) beads were selected. Incubation in a minimal salt medium with LDPE beads as the sole carbon source led to the selection of Pseudomonas plecoglossicida SYp2123, which is capable of degrading LDPE. This strain was subjected to high cell density culture, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy revealed chemical changes on the surface of LDPE beads. Additionally, field-emission scanning electron microscopy confirmed substantial biodegradation of the surface. P. plecoglossicida SYp2123 was able to degrade LDPE beads. This discovery shows that P. plecoglossicida can potentially be used as an environmentally friendly approach for tackling issues associated with polyethylene waste.