Thermoplastic-based polymers and their blends are recalcitrant in nature. Based on their extensive use, huge amount of polymeric waste is being produced annually, which impart serious threat on the natural ecosystem. Considering this scenario, it is needed to take some immediate actions to keep the ecosystem dynamic and secure. Therefore, this study was carried out in order to evaluate an indigenously developed bacterial consortium for the biodegradation of epoxy and a blend of epoxy with cow dung that is cow dung modified epoxy (CME). These polymers were preliminary screened against the used bacteria individually for determination of optimum concentration to utilize them as carbon source. For this purpose, the comparative in vitro biodegradation studies were carried out using the bacterial consortium. Relatively, better biodegradation potential of developed consortium was observed for epoxy in comparison to CME, as higher biomass and more sustained growth of consortium was obtained in the presence of epoxy. Further, the progressive in situ degradation of epoxy and CME films was also conducted in the presence and absence of consortium for three and six months under natural conditions. For this purpose, bioformulation of bacteria was used to inoculate the soil. The treated samples were analyzed for their comparative spectral, thermal and morphological changes. Thus, the present study reveals that the used bacterial strains have the potential to act upon epoxy and CME polymers and capable to impart changes in the surface morphology during incubation in soil.
Application of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) to plastic industry has expanded over the last decades due to its attracting features over petro-based plastic, and therefore, its waste accumulation in nature is inevitable. In the present study, a total of four bacterial strains, viz., MK3, PN12, PW1, and Lna3, were formulated into a consortium and subsequently used as biological tool for degradation of biopolymers. The consortium was tested through λ shifts under in vitro conditions for utilization of PHB as sole carbon source. Talc-based bioformulations of consortium were used for the degradation of PHB film composites under in situ conditions. After 9 months of incubation, the recovered samples were monitored through Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. Analytical data, viz., changes in λ shifts (212-219 nm), FT-IR spectra, and SEM micrographs, revealed the biodegradation potential of developed consortium against PHB film composites, i.e., higher degradation of copolymer films was found over blend films. The used consortium had enhanced the rate of natural degradation and can be further used as a natural tool to maintain and restore global environmental safety.
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