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 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

The escalated potential of the novel isolate Bacillus cereus NJD1 for effective biodegradation of LDPE films without pre-treatment

Researchers isolated a novel Bacillus cereus strain from a plastic waste dump that achieved 43% weight loss of LDPE films without pre-treatment, demonstrating promising potential for direct bacterial biodegradation of polyethylene waste.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 50 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

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

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

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

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

A Comparative Study of Low-density Polyethylene Shopping Carry Bag Degrading Bacteria Isolated from Marine and Garden Soil

Researchers isolated bacteria from marine and garden soil and tested their ability to degrade low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic bags. Two species — Paenibacillus castanea and Riemerella anatipestifer — achieved up to 7.3% weight loss of LDPE after 35 days, demonstrating that soil bacteria can slowly break down this common plastic. This research is relevant to understanding natural LDPE degradation pathways and the formation of microplastics as larger plastic items fragment in soil and marine environments.

2023 International Journal of Research -GRANTHAALAYAH
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 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

Isolation, Screening and Characterization of Plastic-Degrading Bacteria From Soil for PWM

Scientists isolated bacteria from soil near garbage sites and identified strains capable of degrading plastic materials, with scanning electron microscopy revealing physical damage — holes and cracks — to plastic surfaces after bacterial exposure within 30 days. The study contributes to the search for soil microbes that could be harnessed for biological plastic waste management. Biodegradation by indigenous soil bacteria could offer a more environmentally friendly alternative to landfilling or incineration of plastic waste.

2026 Current World Environment
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

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 LDPE Using the Winogradsky Column Containing OtteriDumpsite Soil: Prediction of Mechanism and Metabolites Determination

Researchers used a soil microbial community system (Winogradsky column) to degrade low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic, the material used in grocery bags. The bacterial community broke down the plastic and produced identifiable metabolites, suggesting that soil microbes can slowly but measurably attack LDPE. This matters for understanding how plastic waste might naturally degrade in landfills and why microplastics form and persist in the environment.

2023 Current Analytical Chemistry 1 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 cassava starch modified low density polyethylene by Bacillus cereus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from waste dumpsite

Bacterial strains of Bacillus cereus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from a dumpsite soil were tested for their ability to degrade cassava starch-modified LDPE plastic. The bacteria reduced plastic weight and altered surface properties over 90 days of incubation. This study identifies locally sourced bacteria with potential for bioremediation of plastic-contaminated waste environments.

2022 GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences 6 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2021 ILMU KELAUTAN Indonesian Journal of Marine Sciences
Article Tier 2

Identification and degradation potential of microplastics by indigenous bacteria isolated from Putri Cempo Landfill, Surakarta, Indonesia

Researchers isolated and identified bacteria from the Putri Cempo Landfill in Surakarta, Indonesia using Soil Extract Media, then evaluated their ability to degrade different types of plastic contaminants found in agricultural environments, aiming to develop bioremediation solutions for microplastic contamination in farmland soils.

2024 EURASIAN JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE (EJSS) 1 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

Biodegradation of micro-polyethylene particles by bacterial colonization of a mixed microbial consortium isolated from a landfill site

A bacterial consortium isolated from a municipal landfill, dominated by Bacillus and Paenibacillus species, was shown to reduce the dry weight of polyethylene microplastic particles by 14.7% and particle diameter by 22.8% after 60 days of incubation. The study provides evidence that landfill-adapted bacteria can biodegrade PE microplastics under mesophilic conditions.

2019 Chemosphere 427 citations
Article Tier 2

Biofilm development of Bacillus siamensis ATKU1 on pristine short chain low-density polyethylene: A case study on microbe-microplastics interaction

Researchers isolated a low-density polyethylene (LDPE)-degrading bacterial strain, Bacillus siamensis ATKU1, from a plastic dumping site and studied its biofilm formation on LDPE microplastics as the sole carbon source. Scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy confirmed biofilm development with measurable changes to surface mechanical properties, providing evidence for microbial utilisation of LDPE microplastics.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 71 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution and biodegradation analysis of polyvinyl chloride microplastic by indigenous bacteria isolated from Supit Urang Landfill, Malang, Indonesia

Scientists isolated bacteria from an Indonesian landfill and tested their ability to break down polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microplastics, using molecular and bioinformatic approaches to identify the best degraders. The findings point toward bioremediation as a potential tool for reducing persistent PVC plastic waste, one of the more toxic and durable plastic types in the environment.

2023 Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity 6 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