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Polystyrene Microplastics Degradation by Microbial Consortium From Jakarta Bay
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Researchers isolated microbial consortia from Jakarta Bay that demonstrated the ability to degrade polystyrene microplastics. The bacterial communities, sourced from biofilm-covered plastic waste in the bay, showed measurable degradation of polystyrene over the study period. The findings suggest that naturally occurring marine microorganisms in polluted environments may have evolved capabilities that could be harnessed for bioremediation of plastic waste.
ABSTRACT The continuously increasing accumulation of microplastics in the environment, such as polystyrene (PS), has posed an ecological and health threat. However, the information and biodegradation capability of plastics, including polystyrene, was still in the infancy stage in Indonesia. This study explored the potential of microbial consortia from Jakarta Bay to degrade polystyrene microplastics. The consortia were obtained from plastic waste with biofilms on their surfaces, collected from three stations in Jakarta Bay. The research enriched the biofilm's consortia using 1/10 Zobell marine broth media supplemented with 0.1% PS microplastics. Using enriched cultures, biodegradation tests were performed in a mineral salt medium with 0.2% PS microplastics as a sole carbon source for 60 days at 27°C, 120 rpm. Microbial consortia from Jakarta Bay showed an ability to perform polystyrene biodegradation. The calculated weight loss of the microplastics after 60 days of incubation was between 4% and 6.4%. The biodegradation of PS microplastics by the microbial consortium was also indicated by FTIR spectra, which showed changes in functional group transmittances and were confirmed by SEM data showing holes formation on PS surfaces. The results provide a baseline study for further research development in Indonesia's polystyrene biodegradation technology and management.
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Indonesian researchers isolated bacteria from Marina Beach in Semarang that could degrade plastic, testing their ability to break down polyethylene and polypropylene. The bacteria showed measurable plastic-degrading activity under lab conditions. Identifying locally occurring plastic-degrading microbes supports the development of bioremediation strategies for plastic pollution in Indonesian marine environments.
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