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Biodegradation of polypropylene by bacterial isolates from the organs of a fish, Liza grandisquamis harvested from Ohiakwu estuary in Rivers State, Nigeria
Summary
Researchers isolated bacteria from the internal organs of mullet fish caught in a Nigerian estuary and tested their ability to biodegrade polypropylene plastic. Bacterial isolates including Bacillus and Pseudomonas species showed measurable weight loss in polypropylene films, indicating biodegradation potential.
Biodegradation of polypropylene (PP) by bacteria isolated from internal organs of mullet, Liza grandisquamis were assessed using gravimetric (weight loss) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analyses. Bacterial isolates; Staphylococcus epidermidis (AE015931), Pseudomonas xiamenensis (MH734834), Bacillus licheniformis (AF478085), Klebsiella pneumoniae (MH021669), Bacillus lentus (AB021189) and Escherichia coli (KX609714) were screened for capacity to degrade PP, respectively. From the data obtained the degradation of PP occurred in the following order; Bacillus lentus > B. licheniformis > Staphylococcus epidermidis > Klebsiella pneumoniae > Escherichia coli overtime. However, further research would be needed to understand clearly the mechanism of biodegradation of PP and the applicability of these bacteria on related synthetic polymers. The standardized protocols for the biodegradation of PP are also required.