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Biodegradation potential of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) using Aspergillus niger and Phanerochaete chrysosporium
Summary
Researchers tested two common fungi — Aspergillus niger and Phanerochaete chrysosporium — on low-density polyethylene plastic and found they degraded up to 40% of the material in just 20 days. The findings suggest these fungi could be part of a biological strategy for breaking down one of the world's most common plastic types.
Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is one of the most predominant and widely used plastic types on earth. This study investigated the degradation of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) with two fungal species. Aspergillus niger and Phanerochaete chrysosporium were the two fungal species that were isolated from garbage soil and screened in two medium broths independently i.e. Czapek-Dox broth (CDB) and Mineral salt medium (MSM). The broth was used to inoculate both fungi species in flasks where LDPE polymer as source of carbon. Non pre-treatment LDPE samples were incubated for a 20-day biodegradation process. Microbial population, biomass layer, pH were maintained during the process. The final biodegradation percentage after 20 days was 40% in CDB and minimum degradation rate in MSM. The morphological, structural and functional group alterations on LDPE were assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). DSC analytical method confirmed the LDPE polymer chain breakdown. LDPE exposed to fungi species was reported to show crystallinity and crystal size differences with peak intensity at 21.4°. Through the analysis of FTIR peaks were observed at 2927 and 2523 cm−1. This research highlights the potential of both fungi for biodegradation of LDPE. However, with these findings adaptive metabolic pathways for LDPE biodegradation need to be linked and studied.
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