Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Rapid Biodegradation of Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) Without Pre-Treatment by Bacillus Strains Isolated from Garbage Dumpsites

Researchers isolated five Bacillus strains from garbage dump sites in Bangladesh and demonstrated their ability to degrade untreated low-density polyethylene films without pre-treatment, achieving 16–26% weight loss and surface erosion confirmed by microscopy and FTIR, with two strains representing previously undocumented LDPE degraders.

2026
Article Tier 2

Biodegradation of LDPE plastic by local strain of Bacillus sp. isolated from dump soil of Pekanbaru, Indonesia

Scientists isolated a local strain of Bacillus bacteria from landfill soil in Indonesia and tested its ability to break down low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic. The bacteria showed measurable ability to degrade LDPE, reducing plastic weight over time. This research supports the potential for using locally sourced soil bacteria in plastic biodegradation efforts.

2021 Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Isolation and characterization of new bacterial strains degrading low-density polyethylene

Researchers isolated and characterized new bacterial strains capable of degrading low-density polyethylene, one of the most common plastic polymers. The strains were found in landfill and compost environments, and the study suggests that biological degradation could be a promising approach for addressing polyethylene waste accumulation.

2024 Chemical and Process Engineering New Frontiers 3 citations
Article Tier 2

An approach to low-density polyethylene biodegradation by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens

Researchers isolated two strains of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens from municipal solid waste soil and demonstrated their capacity to degrade low-density polyethylene (LDPE) films, as measured by dry weight reduction, pH changes, and surface modification via FTIR and SEM analysis. The findings indicate that these bacterial strains have potential for application in LDPE bioremediation.

2014 3 Biotech 239 citations
Article Tier 2

Microbial degradation of virgin polyethylene by bacteria isolated from a landfill site

Researchers isolated bacteria from landfill sites that had been exposed to plastic waste for up to 17 years and tested their ability to break down high-density polyethylene (HDPE), a common plastic used in packaging. The bacterium Bacillus cereus achieved the highest degradation at only 1.78% weight loss, confirming that plastic biodegradation in landfills is an extremely slow process.

2022 SN Applied Sciences 54 citations
Article Tier 2

Phenotypic and Genomic Characterization of Polyethylene-Degrading Bacillus cereus PE-1 Enriched from Landfill Microbial Consortium

Scientists found a bacteria called Bacillus cereus PE-1 in landfill soil that can actually eat and break down plastic bags and containers (polyethylene). The bacteria damaged the plastic's surface and reduced its weight by about 5% in just 30 days, suggesting it could potentially help clean up plastic pollution in the environment. While this research is still early and needs more testing, it offers hope for using natural bacteria to tackle the growing problem of plastic waste that threatens our ecosystems and food chain.

2026 Polymers
Article Tier 2

Polycarbonate biodegradation by newly isolated Bacillus strains

Researchers isolated Bacillus strains capable of biodegrading polycarbonate from buried plastic films, demonstrating measurable polymer degradation through enzymatic activity including lipase and amylase production over the screening period.

2023 Archives of Environmental Protection 32 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradation of Polyethylene Using Lysinibacillus macroides: Isolation, Characterization and Evaluation

Researchers isolated and characterized Lysinibacillus macroides bacteria from plastic dumping grounds in Karad, India, and evaluated their ability to biodegrade polyethylene microplastics. The study demonstrated measurable polyethylene degradation by the isolated bacterial strain, supporting its potential as a low-cost microbial approach to plastic pollution remediation.

2025 Nature Environment and Pollution Technology
Article Tier 2

Introducing the LDPE degrading microbes of sedimentary systems: from dumpsite to laboratory

This study identified and characterized low-density polyethylene (LDPE)-degrading microbes from dumpsite sedimentary systems, isolating bacteria capable of utilizing LDPE as a carbon source—providing a starting point for developing biological solutions to plastic pollution remediation.

2025 Environmental Science Advances 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodeterioration of Microplastics: A Promising Step towards Plastics Waste Management

Researchers screened bacteria from a landfill site for plastic-degrading ability, finding Alcaligenes faecalis and Bacillus cereus as the most active strains, achieving up to 17% degradation of polyester and 29% degradation of polyester by Bacillus cereus. Surface changes confirmed degradation was occurring, and no pre-treatment was needed for these bacteria to utilize plastic as an energy source.

2022 Polymers 64 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradation of Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) using marine bacteria isolated from tropical beaches of megacity Mumbai

Marine bacteria isolated from plastic debris buried in beach sediments at seven Mumbai beaches were able to colonize and partially degrade low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic. Identifying bacteria naturally adapted to plastic-rich marine environments is a step toward developing biological tools for plastic degradation, though the process is currently far too slow to address the scale of ocean plastic pollution without significant enhancement.

2024 Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradation of Low Density Polyethylene by Selected Bacillus sp.

Researchers found that certain Bacillus bacteria can degrade low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic, breaking it down at a modest 1.5% over 60 days. While the rate is slow, this points to a potential biological pathway for plastic degradation that could be developed further.

2019 GAZI UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF SCIENCE 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Promoting bacterial colonization and biofilm formation for enhanced biodegradation of low-density polyethylene microplastics

Four bacterial strains isolated from marine plastic debris — including Bacillus cereus and Micrococcus luteus — were shown to form biofilms on low-density polyethylene and produce biosurfactants, with biofilm promotion strategies enhancing polyethylene biodegradation rates.

2025 Bioresources and Bioprocessing 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Microorganism-Based Bioremediation Approach for Plastics and Microplastics Wastes

Soil bacteria were isolated and screened for plastic-degrading capacity, with one of five isolates showing the highest low-density polyethylene (LDPE) degradation, demonstrating that soil-derived actinobacteria and other bacteria can contribute to bioremediation of plastic waste.

2024
Article Tier 2

Isolation of a novel microplastic-degrading bacterial strain: a promising agent for low-density polyethylene remediation

Researchers isolated and compared two bacterial strains for their ability to biodegrade low-density polyethylene (LDPE), identifying Paenarthrobacter nitroguajacolicus as a novel candidate for plastic remediation. The study found that P. nitroguajacolicus showed superior growth and metabolic activity when using LDPE as its sole carbon source, while both strains produced visible structural and chemical changes in the plastic, suggesting complementary roles in potential bioremediation strategies.

2025 Chemosphere 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Isolation of a soil bacterium for remediation of polyurethane and low-density polyethylene: a promising tool towards sustainable cleanup of the environment.

A soil bacterium tentatively classified in the Pseudomonas genus was found to biodegrade both polyurethane and low-density polyethylene plastics. The discovery of a single bacterial strain capable of degrading two different types of plastic is a step toward developing practical microbial tools for plastic waste remediation.

2021 3 Biotech
Article Tier 2

Exploitation of bacterial strains for microplastics (LDPE) biodegradation

Researchers tested five bacterial strains for their ability to biodegrade low-density polyethylene microplastics over four months. Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed the most significant degradation with an 18.2% weight loss, followed by Bacillus subtilis at 16.1%. The study demonstrates that naturally occurring soil bacteria can break down polyethylene microplastics, suggesting a potential biological approach to addressing plastic waste pollution.

2023 Chemosphere 63 citations
Article Tier 2

Degradation of low density polyethylene by Bacillus species

Researchers tested the ability of two common Bacillus bacteria species to degrade low-density polyethylene and observed weight losses of about 3.5 and 2.8 percent over 30 days. Surface analysis revealed cracks, pits, and chemical oxidation on the plastic sheets exposed to the bacteria. The study suggests that these widely available microorganisms could potentially be developed as biological agents for polyethylene degradation, though the underlying enzymatic mechanisms require further investigation.

2022 Applied Biological Chemistry 60 citations
Article Tier 2

Genomic insights and metabolic pathways of an enriched bacterial community capable of degrading polyethylene

Researchers enriched bacteria from wastewater treatment sludge that can break down polyethylene plastic, achieving a 3% weight reduction in plastic films over 28 days. Genomic analysis identified specific bacterial strains and 14 plastic-degrading genes, including those for enzymes like laccase and lipase that attack the plastic's molecular structure. The study offers a potential pathway toward using naturally occurring bacteria as a sustainable solution for plastic waste degradation.

2025 Environment International 14 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2024 The Open Biotechnology Journal 10 citations
Article Tier 2

High density polyethylene microplastics biodegradation by bacteria isolated from a landfill in Cali, Colombia

Researchers isolated bacteria from a landfill in Cali, Colombia, and evaluated their ability to biodegrade high-density polyethylene (HDPE) microplastics, addressing gaps in knowledge about microbial degradation of persistent plastic particles. The study identified bacterial strains capable of accelerating HDPE breakdown, demonstrating the potential of landfill-derived microorganisms for bioremediation.

2024 Revista Internacional de Contaminación Ambiental 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradation of polyethylene with polyethylene-group-degrading enzyme delivered by the engineered Bacillus velezensis

Researchers engineered a strain of the soil bacterium Bacillus velezensis to produce enzymes that break down polyethylene, the most common type of microplastic found in vegetable-growing soils. The engineered bacteria degraded about 23 percent of polyethylene microplastics over 20 days in laboratory tests. The study introduces a promising bioengineering approach to tackling the widespread problem of plastic pollution in agricultural soils.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization of microplastic degrading bacteria isolated from the Putri Cempo landfill

Researchers isolated bacteria from a landfill in Indonesia and characterized their ability to degrade microplastics, identifying indigenous strains with potential for use in bioremediation of plastic pollution.

2024 IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science 1 citations
Article Tier 2

In vivo degradation of polyethylene terephthalate using microbial isolates from plastic polluted environment.

Researchers isolated four microbial strains from plastic waste dumping sites and tested their ability to degrade polyethylene terephthalate in vivo, finding measurable weight loss and surface modification of PET films over 30 days, with Aspergillus species demonstrating the highest degradation efficiency.

2023 Chemosphere