Chemical and biological degradation of waste plastics

Brown, Bernard S.; Mills, J.; Hulse, John M.

doi:10.1038/250161a0

Cited by 44 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Numerous published reports (5,10,(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26) and the references cited therein provide information on the biodegradation of a variety of plastics. Bushnell and Haas (20) reported on the bacterial biodegradation of hydrocarbons (27,28).…”

Section: Plastic Biodegradationmentioning

confidence: 99%

A review of biodegradation of synthetic plastic and foams

Gautam¹,

Bassi²,

Yanful³

2007

Appl Biochem Biotechnol

171

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Synthetic polymeric foams have pervaded every aspect of modern life. Although foams provide numerous benefits, they also cause a significant environmental litter problem because of their recalcitrant and xenobiotic nature. Biodegradation may provide solution to the problem, but not enough is known about the biodegradation process of synthetic plastic and plasticbased foams. This review has been written to provide an overview of the current state of plastic foam biodegradation. Several biodegradation pathways of a few select synthetic polymers are also presented along with a discussion on some of the physico-chemical factors that can influence the biodegradation of plastic foams.

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Section: Plastic Biodegradationmentioning

confidence: 99%

A review of biodegradation of synthetic plastic and foams

Gautam¹,

Bassi²,

Yanful³

2007

Appl Biochem Biotechnol

171

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“…It is widely accepted that the resistance of polyethylene to biodegradation stems from its high molecular weight, its three‐dimensional structure and its hydrophobic nature, all of which interfere with its availability to micro‐organisms. Nevertheless, several studies have demonstrated partial biodegradation of polyethylene after UV irradiation,15 thermal treatment16 or oxidation with nitric acid 17. Furthermore, a synergistic effect has been found between photo‐oxidation and biodegradation of polyethylene 18…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of pro‐oxidants on biodegradation of polyethylene (LDPE) by indigenous fungal isolate, Aspergillus oryzae

Konduri¹,

Koteswarareddy²,

Kumar

et al. 2011

J of Applied Polymer Sci

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Proxidant additives represent a promising solution to the problem of the environment contamination with polyethylene film litter. Pro-oxidants accelerate photo-and thermo-oxidation and consequent polymer chain cleavage rendering the product apparently more susceptible to biodegradation. In the present study, fungal strain, Aspergillus oryzae isolated from HDPE film (buried in soil for 3 months) utilized abiotically treated polyethylene (LDPE) as a sole carbon source and degraded it. Treatment with pro-oxidant, manganese stearate followed by UV irradiation and incubation with A. oryzae resulted in maximum decrease in percentage of elongation and tensile strength by 62 and 51%, respectively, compared with other pro-oxidant treated LDPE films which showed 45% (titanium stearate), 40% (iron stearate), and 39% (cobalt stearate) decrease in tensile strength. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis of proxidant treated LDPE films revealed generation of more number of carbonyl and carboxylic groups (1630-1840 cm À1 and 1220-1340 cm À1) compared with UV treated film. When these films were incubated with A. oryzae for 3 months complete degradation of carbonyl and carboxylic groups was achieved. Scanning electron microscopy of untreated and treated LDPE films also revealed that polymer has undergone degradation after abiotic and biotic treatments. This concludes proxidant treatment before UV irradiation accelerated photo-oxidation of LDPE, caused functional groups to be generated in the polyethylene film and this resulted in biodegradation due to the consumption of carbonyl and carboxylic groups by A. oryzae which was evident by reduction in carbonyl peaks. Among the pro-oxidants, manganese stearate treatment caused maximum degradation of polyethylene. V C 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 120: [3536][3537][3538][3539][3540][3541][3542][3543][3544][3545] 2011

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“…Attempts to facilitate colonization of polyethylene by adding nonionic surfactants to the culture medium enhanced the biodegradation of polyethylene (Ehara et al 2000). However, several studies have demonstrated the partial degradation of polyethylene after ultraviolet (UV) irradiation (Cornell, Kaplan, and Rogers 1984), thermal treatment (Volke-Sepulveda et al 2002), or oxidation with nitric acid (Brown, Mills, and Hulse 1974). Gilan, Hadar, and Sivan (2004) isolated a strain of Rhodococcus ruber (C208) that was found to colonize and degrade polyethylene.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Colonization and Degradation of Thermally Oxidized High-Density Polyethylene byAspergillus niger(ITCC No. 6052) Isolated from Plastic Waste Dumpsite

Mathur

Prasad

2011

Bioremediation Journal

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Plastic materials, particularly polyethylene, are the potential source of environmental pollution. In the present study, a fungal strain was isolated from plastic waste dumpsites capable of adhering to high-density polyethylene (HDPE) surface. The fungal strain was identified as Aspergillus niger (ITCC no. 6052). A visible increase in the growth of the fungi was observed on the surface of the polyethylene when cultured in minimal medium at 30 • C and 120 rpm, for 1 month. Approximately 3.44% reduction (gravimetrically) in mass and 61% reduction in tensile strength of polyethylene was observed after 1 month of incubation with fungal isolate. Scanning electron microscope analysis showed hyphael penetration and cracks on the surface of polyethylene. A thick network of fungal hyphae forming a biofilm was also observed on the surface of the plastic pieces. The efficient biofilm formation on polyethylene surface by Aspergillus niger (ITCC no. 6052) is attributed to its high cell surface hydrophobicity. This study indicated that Aspergillus niger (ITCC no. 6052) has ability to degrade thermally oxidized polyethylene.

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Chemical and biological degradation of waste plastics

Cited by 44 publications

References 5 publications

A review of biodegradation of synthetic plastic and foams

A review of biodegradation of synthetic plastic and foams

Effect of pro‐oxidants on biodegradation of polyethylene (LDPE) by indigenous fungal isolate, Aspergillus oryzae

Colonization and Degradation of Thermally Oxidized High-Density Polyethylene byAspergillus niger(ITCC No. 6052) Isolated from Plastic Waste Dumpsite

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