Microbial biodegradation of polyethylene of low density, under controlled thermal conditions in air lift bio-reactor

Abstract

The present investigation seeks to identify new mechanisms that serve as tools for the mitigation of plastic contamination through the biodegradation of low density polyethylene using microorganisms of the species Pseudomona aeruginosa (bacteria) and Aspergillus brazilensis (fungus) under controlled thermal conditions in an airlift bioreactor. The methods used were 2 samples of low density polyethylene with concentrations of 50 mg/L and 2 samples of 100 mg/L deposited in an airlift bioreactor under controlled thermal conditions with a duration of 7 days. As a result it was obtained that the species Pseudomona aeruginosa (bacteria) reduced the low density polyethylene sample by 2% with a concentration of 49 mg/L at a temperature of 21.8oC with a pH of 6.5 and dissolved oxygen (OD) of 6.8 mg/L, likewise the species Aspergillus brazilensis (fungus) reduced the low density polyethylene sample by 7% reaching a concentration of 93 mg/L at 22.1oC of temperature, 7.14 of pH and 7.45 of dissolved oxygen (OD).