Effect of potential fungi on low density polyethylene isolated from municipal solid waste with reference to scanning electron microscopy analysis

Polyethylene makes up a significant 64% of all synthetic plastics and is extensively utilized in the production of various items which leads to accumulation in environment and natural resources. Among numerous approaches to mitigate the accumulation of plastic waste bioremediation stands out as the most ecofriendly method. The aim of present study is the detection of a potential polyethylene degrading fungi for management of municipal waste. A total of thirty one fungi were isolated on screening media using low density polyethylene powder as sole carbon source. These isolates were then subjected to in vitro biodegradation studies using low polyethylene films for sixty days. Three fungal isolates (MF-14 MF-16 and MF-20) that exhibited more than 10% weight loss were further screened at varied pH conditions (3.5, 7, and 9.5) to assess the percent weight loss in the treated polyethylene strips with continuous shaking for sixty days. Maximum percent weight loss (37.66±06.24%) was recorded with MF-16 at pH 3.5. A decrease in the tensile strength of the polyethylene strips was also observed with MF-16 showing the maximum percent loss in tensile strength (92.30±06.98%).On the basis of 18s rRNA gene sequencing the taxonomic confirmation of fungal species revealed fungal isolate were of Aspergillus species. Biodegradation of polyethylene was further confirmed through Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis.