0
Article Tier 2 Detection Methods Environmental Sources Human Health Effects Marine & Wildlife Remediation Sign in to save

Degradation of microplastics by formulated bacterial consortium isolated from mangrove areas in Peninsular Malaysia / Iffa Syamimi Rosli

2017

AI summary Read the abstract

This study investigated whether bacteria isolated from mangrove sediments in Malaysia could degrade common microplastics under laboratory conditions, finding that bacterial consortia could break down polyethylene and polypropylene over time. The research suggests that mangrove microbial communities may harbor plastic-degrading bacteria relevant to natural bioremediation.

Study Type Environmental

Regardless of its importance as an ecosystem, coastal mangroves have historically been favoured as dumping sites for numerous waste, including plastics. This study was aimed to investigate the ability of bacteria isolated from mangrove areas to degrade selected microplastics in laboratory condition. Physico-chemical parameters such as dissolve oxygen (DO), pH, temperature, salinity and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) of water samples collected from mangrove areas were analyzed, to correlate with the microbial abundance in the areas. Potential degrading bacteria microbial consortium was inoculated in Bushnell Haas broth containing selected microplastics (sole carbon source). The medium was incubated in a shaker at 28°C for 30 days and the weight reduction of microplastics was recorded. In total, there are 38 species of bacteria isolated from mangroves sediment. It was found that microbial abundance at Matang Mangrove, Perak recorded the highest number of bacteria with 3.7 x 107 CFU/ml. Positive correlation was shown between microbial abundance with DO and BOD. After 30 days of exposure, polyethylene was reduced by 27.9%, polyethylene terephtalate by 24%, polypropylene by 19.5% and polystyrene by 15%. The change in the peak of FTIR confirmed the degradation potential of microplastics by these bacteria. The results revealed that the consortia isolated from mangrove sediment have the potential to degrade selected microplastic, thus can be used to bioremediate microplastics in a mangrove environment ecosystem.

More Papers Like This

Article Tier 2

Screening for Polypropylene Degradation Potential of Bacteria Isolated from Mangrove Ecosystems in Peninsular Malaysia

AI summary Read the abstract

Two bacterial species isolated from mangrove sediments in Malaysia were found to partially degrade polypropylene plastic, as measured by weight loss and surface changes after incubation. Mangrove-associated bacteria capable of degrading plastics could have potential applications in biological plastic remediation.

Article Tier 2

Isolation and Identification of Four Strains of Bacteria with Potential to Biodegrade Polyethylene and Polypropylene from Mangrove

AI summary Read the abstract

Researchers screened mangrove sediment and surface water bacteria for the ability to biodegrade polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics, successfully isolating four candidate strains. The identified bacteria showed measurable plastic degradation activity, highlighting mangrove ecosystems as a source of novel plastic-degrading microorganisms.

Article Tier 2

Bioremediation of microplastic using microbes isolated from mangrove sediments / Helen Shnada Auta

AI summary Read the abstract

Twenty-two bacteria isolated from plastic-contaminated mangrove sediments were screened for the ability to degrade common plastic polymers including PE, PP, PET, and PS, with nine isolates showing degradation activity. The findings suggest that mangrove ecosystems harbor microbes with potential for bioremediation of plastic pollution in marine and coastal environments.

Article Tier 2

Screening of Bacillus strains isolated from mangrove ecosystems in Peninsular Malaysia for microplastic degradation

AI summary Read the abstract

Researchers screened Bacillus strains isolated from mangrove ecosystems in Malaysia for plastic-degrading ability, identifying several strains with activity against synthetic polymers and highlighting mangrove microbiomes as a source of plastic-degrading bacteria.

Article Tier 2

Enhanced microbial degradation of PET and PS microplastics under natural conditions in mangrove environment

AI summary Read the abstract

Researchers isolated bacteria from microplastic-contaminated mangrove soil and tested their ability to break down PET and polystyrene microplastics under natural conditions. Over 90 days, the microbial consortium achieved an 18% weight loss in the treated microplastics and visibly altered their surface structure. The study suggests that naturally occurring bacteria in polluted environments hold potential for bioremediation of microplastic-contaminated soils.

Research digests by email

When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.

Email me about

Share this paper