Isolation, Characterisation and Evaluation of Plastic Degrading Properties of Soil Biofilms Collected from Chennai District

Abstract

Environmental pollution due to accumulation of synthetic polymers namely plastics is a growing concern which threatens the terrestrial marine flora and fauna. Traditional methods of plastic disposal include incineration and disposal into landfills or water bodies. Incineration of polyethylene, polystyrene leads to emission of a large amount of carbon monoxide which is toxic if inhaled and also a potent greenhouse gas. Degradation of plastic by microorganisms is an efficient and eco-friendly method employed for rapid rate of disintegration. The biofilm present in the contaminated soil survives by adapting to harsh environment by secreting hydrolysing enzymes which are potent in degradation of the accumulated plastics. The present study deals with the isolation, characterisation and evaluation of plastic degrading properties of microorganisms isolated from various soil samples collected from Chennai district. Soil samples were collected aseptically from various locations & isolated by standard plate count method. The isolated organisms were identified by staining methods and characterized by phylogenetic analysis. The organism Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptomyces fulvissimus were further subjected to plastic degradation testing. The present study demonstrates the ability of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptomyces fulvissimus to degrade polyethylene sheets.