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Biodegradation of polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride by soil-screened Aspergillus versicolor and Aspergillus aflatoxiformans.
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Researchers isolated fungi from plastic-polluted soil and tested their ability to break down two common plastics, polyethylene and PVC, in lab experiments using UV light exposure. Two fungal species caused notable weight loss and visible surface damage in the plastics, and chemical analysis identified breakdown products, suggesting these fungi can partially degrade plastic materials.
Plastic pollution has emerged as a significant and persistent environmental problem. We aimed to isolate and screen microbial strains capable of degrading polyethylene (PE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). We collected soil from sites with a history of plastic pollution. Of the isolated bacterial and fungal strains, three fungal strains, Aspergillus versicolor (PE-1), Aspergillus aflatoxiformans (PVC-1), and Aspergillus versicolor (PVC-3), were screened positively for possessing a high degradation potential. The UV-radiation-mediated enhanced degradation process was analyzed using several techniques, including weight loss assessment, fungal biomass determination, and advanced techniques such as FTIR, SEM, GC-MS, and XRD. The results indicated significant weight losses of 23.0% in PE due to PE-1, and 17.80 and 14.3% in PVC films due to PVC-1 and PVC-3, indicating microbial degradation of the plastics. FTIR and SEM analyses revealed structural and morphological changes consistent with fungal surface oxidation and deterioration. GC-MS analysis also identified various degradation products, such as alkanes, alcohols, and carboxylic acids, resulting from polymer degradation; based on these products, a degradation pathway for PE and PVC is proposed in this study. This study suggests the potential of microbial biodegradation as an affordable and eco-friendly means to reduce plastic waste in the environment.
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