MICROBIAL DEGRADATION OF LOW-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE (LDPE) BY FUNGUS ISOLATED FROM LANDFILL SOIL

Abstract

A low density polyethylene (LDPE) is one of the hazardous polymers accelerates land and water pollution. Standardizing the protocol for degradation of plastics in an aesthetic approach is a big task. Low density polyethylene polymer can be degraded by microbial enzymes by means of cutting down the molecular chains. Two fungal strains Aspergillus fumigus and Xylaria sp. were showing high degradable activity through the determination of pH variation and carbon di oxide estimation. Aspergillus fumigus and Xylaria sp shows pH variation in the culture media containing LDPE strips after 30 days and was recorded as 6.5 to 8.4 and 6.5 to 7.7 respectively. The efficacy of polyethylene degradation was confirmed further by CO2 estimation of culture filtrate and was recorded as 1.460 g/l in Aspergillus fumigus and 1.350 g/l in Xylaria sp. Surface erosion and the formation of pits and cavities on the surface of the LDPE strips were also observed using Scanning Electron Microscope and significant disappearance in carbonyl peak with respect to the control band absorbance (2361.61 cm-1) and increase or decrease in peak intensity with respect to control indicates structural changes in chemical bond due to degradation process.