Biodegradation of poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) film and foam plastic by Pseudozyma japonica sp. nov., a novel cutinolytic ustilaginomycetous yeast species

Abstract

Aliphatic polyesters poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and foam plastic have been shown to be biodegradable by microorganisms, which possess cutinolytic enzymes. Pseudozyma japonica-Y7-09, showed both high growth and enzyme activity on Yeast malt (YM) medium fed with PCL film than on YM medium. The hydrolytic enzyme activity of the culture on p-nitrophenyl butyrate indicated the occurrence of cutinase enzyme. This activity was confirmed by the degradation of PCL film which reached to the maximum (93.33 %) at 15 days and the degradation of foam plastic which reached 43.2 % at 30 days. These results suggest that the extracellular cutinase enzyme of Pseudozyma japonica-Y7-09 may be useful for the biological degradation of plastic wastes.

A Middle-Aged Enzyme Still in Its Prime: Recent Advances in the Field of Cutinases

“…An extracellular cutinase of Pseudozyma japonica sp. nov. hydrolyzed PCL films by 93% at 15 days [103], while a cutinase from Aspergillus fumigatus achieved complete PCL degradation, presenting promising results for both biosynthesis and biodegradation [104]. Another group suggested the hydrolysis of PCL films by Bacillus sp.…”

Production and Purification of Cutinase from <i>Fusarium oxysporum</i> Using Modified Growth Media and a Specific Cutinase Substrate

“…These works are part of the scientific effort focusing on using cutinase for environmental protection. Recent examples are the use of cutinase for biodegradation of environmental friendly plastics such as Poly (butylene succinate) (PBS) [24], aliphatic polyesters poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and foam plastic [25].…”

Microbial lipases and their industrial applications: a comprehensive review

“…The extent and rate of degradation is the main difference between the biodestructible and biodegradable plastics, where the former necessitates further management unlike the latter. The comprehensive destructibility of plastics is based on the capability of lipases to cut down polycaprolactone (aliphatic polyester); to promote their rate of degradation can be diversified with plastics observed in Fermentation Research Institute Tsukuba, Japan [ 488 ]. Lipase producing species of bacteria are applicable to biodegradation of Polyurethanes (PUR) are Pseudomonas protegens BC2-12, P. protegens CHA0, P. protegens Pf-5, P. fluorescens A506 and Pf0-1, P. chlororaphis [ 489 ].…”