Characterization of microplastic degrading bacteria isolated from the Putri Cempo landfill

Abstract Exposure to plastic in the soil causes the formation of plastic debris, which breaks down into microplastics (plastic measuring <5 mm). Microplastic pollution that occurs in ecosystems has the potential to enter the human food chain and is considered a severe threat to human health. One solution to overcome the problem of microplastic pollution is to use indigenous bacteria as natural microplastic decomposing agents. This research uses an exploratory descriptive method with soil samples from the landfill followed isolation and identify the potential of indigenous bacteria from Putri Cempo landfill to degrading microplastics. Based on the research results, two isolates could degrade microplastics, namely separates CP1 and CP2. Isolate CP1 was proven to lessen microplastics by 2.43% and isolate CP2 by 1.15%. Bacterial isolates CP1 and CP2 have the same morphological characteristics. Bacterial isolates CP1 and CP2 are gram-negative bacteria, round, cream in color, with smooth edges, shiny elevations, and bacillary cell shape. In the oxidase and O/F tests, isolate CP1 had positive results, while CP2 had negative values. Bacteria CP1 grows optimally at 37°C, pH five, while CP2 at a temperature of 27°C, pH nine, and both are tolerant to NaCl at a level of 4%.