We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Biodegradation of Polyethylene Microplastic using Culturable Coral-Associated Bacteria Isolated from Corals of Karimunjawa National Park
Summary
Researchers isolated bacteria from corals in Indonesia's Karimunjawa National Park and tested their ability to degrade polyethylene microplastics. Coral-associated bacteria showed measurable polyethylene degradation activity, suggesting that coral reef microbial communities may contribute to local plastic breakdown despite the slow overall rate.
Polyethylene is a plastic material that was globally produced and is well known as a non-degradable pollutant product. Plastic pollution, primarily microplastics, have been distributed to coral reef ecosystems, where these areas are ecosystems with high productivity. Karimunjawa National Park in Indonesia is one of the protected areas for coral reef ecosystem habitat in Central Java, threatened by microplastic contamination. Recent studies have shown that coral-associated bacteria have an adequate ability to degrade marine pollutant materials. No one has reported that the use of indigenous coral-associated bacteria has the potential for microplastic biodegradation, especially low-density polyethylene microplastic materials. Hence, the objective of this study was to find the potential of microplastic biodegradation agents derived from coral-associated bacteria in Karimunjawa National Park area. Various coral life-forms were isolated in July 2020 from conservation areas and areas with anthropogenic influences. Bacterial isolates were screened using tributyrin and polycaprolactone as substrates to reveal potential microplastic degradation enzymes. The total isolation results obtained 92 bacterial isolates, and then from the result of enzyme screening, there were 7 active bacteria and only 1 bacteria that potential to degrade polyethylene. LBC 1 showed that strain could degrade by 2.25±0.0684 % low-density polyethylene microplastic pellet by incubating bacterial growth until the stationary phase. Identification of LBC 1 strain was carried out by extracting DNA and bacterial 16S rRNA sequences. Bacterial gene identification refers to Bacillus paramycoides with a similarity level in the National Center Biotechnology Information database of 99.44%. These results prove that hard coral association bacteria can degrade low-density polyethylene microplastics.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Isolation and Characterization of Polyethylene and Polyethylene Terephthalate-degrading Bacteria from Jakarta Bay, Indonesia
Researchers isolated bacteria from Jakarta Bay, Indonesia, that showed the ability to degrade polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate microplastics in laboratory conditions. They identified the most effective bacterial strains and confirmed plastic degradation through weight loss measurements and surface analysis. The study supports the potential of using naturally occurring marine bacteria for bioremediation of plastic-polluted coastal environments.
Exploration of Plastic-Degrading Bacteria From Marina Beach, Semarang, Central Java
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.
Microplastics under siege: Biofilm-forming marine bacteria from the microplastisphere and their role in plastic degradation
Researchers isolated and screened bacteria from microplastics collected along coastal beaches of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to assess their ability to degrade plastic. One bacterial strain achieved over 10% degradation of low-density polyethylene, with surface analysis confirming physical breakdown of the plastic. The study suggests that naturally occurring marine bacteria colonizing microplastics may play a role in plastic biodegradation in ocean environments.
Isolation and Identification of Indigenous Plastic-Degrading Bacteria from Dumai’s Ocean Water of Riau Province
Researchers isolated and identified plastic-degrading bacteria from the coastal waters of Dumai, Indonesia, finding indigenous microbial populations capable of breaking down plastic polymers. Local plastic-degrading bacteria represent a potentially sustainable biological tool for addressing microplastic contamination in affected environments.
Potensi Mikroorganisme Sebagai Agen Bioremediasi Mikroplastik Di Laut
This Indonesian review examines microorganisms with the potential to biodegrade microplastics in marine environments, including bacteria that can use plastic as a carbon source. Identifying plastic-degrading microbes is a step toward developing biological remediation strategies for marine microplastic pollution.