scholarly journals Pseudomonasisolates degrade and form biofilms on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morgan Vague ◽  
Gayle Chan ◽  
Cameron Roberts ◽  
Natasja A. Swartz ◽  
Jay L. Mellies
Keyword(s):  
Polyethylene Terephthalate ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Soil Bacteria ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Plastic Waste ◽  
Bacterial Degradation ◽  
Carbon Surface ◽  
Molecular Evidence ◽  
Plastic Surface ◽  
Plastic Degradation

ABSTRACTBioaugmentation is a possible remediation strategy for the massive amounts of plastic waste in our oceans and landfills. For this study, soil samples were collected from petroleum polluted locations in the Houston, Texas area to isolate microorganisms capable of plastic degradation. Bacteria were propagated and screened for lipase activity, which has been associated with the bacterial degradation of some plastics to date. We identified three lipase-positivePseudomonasspecies, andBacillus cereusas part of two consortia, which we predict enhances biofilm formation and plastic degradation. Lipase-positive consortia bacteria were incubated alongside blank andE.colicontrols with UV-irradiated polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), or low-density polyethylene (LDPE) as sole sources of carbon. Surface degradation of PET plastic was quantified by changes in molecular vibrations by infrared spectroscopy. The bacteria formed biofilms on PET, observed by scanning electron microscopy, and induced molecular changes on the plastic surface, indicating the initial stages of plastic degradation. We also found molecular evidence that one of thePseudomonasisolates degrades LDPE. To date, lipase positivePseudomonasspp. degradation of PET has not been well described, and this work highlights the potential for using consortia of common soil bacteria to degrade plastic waste.

scholarly journals Enzymes Involved in Plastic Degradation

2021 ◽  
pp. 95-110
Author(s):  
S.Z.Z. Cobongela
Keyword(s):  
Polyethylene Terephthalate ◽  
Synthetic Polymers ◽  
Chemical Degradation ◽  
Natural Resistance ◽  
Aquatic Life ◽  
Carbon Backbone ◽  
Catabolic Enzymes ◽  
Plastic Degradation ◽  
Global Increase ◽  
Physical And Chemical

The global increase in production of plastic and accumulation in the environment is becoming a major concern especially to the aquatic life. This is due to the natural resistance of plastic to both physical and chemical degradation. Lack of biodegradability of plastic polymers is linked to, amongst other factors, the mobility of the polymers in the crystalline part of the polyesters as they are responsible for enzyme interaction. There are significantly few catabolic enzymes that are active in breaking down polyesters which are the constituents of plastic. The synthetic polymers widely used in petroleum-based plastics include polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinylchloride (PVC), polyurethane (PUR), polystyrene (PS), polyamide (PA) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) being the ones used mostly. Polymers with heteroatomic backbone such as PET and PUR are easier to degrade than the straight carbon-carbon backbone polymers such as PE, PP, PS and PVC.

scholarly journals Recent advances in biocatalysts engineering for polyethylene terephthalate plastic waste green recycling

2020 ◽  
Vol 145 ◽  
pp. 106144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadia A. Samak ◽  
Yunpu Jia ◽  
Moustafa M. Sharshar ◽  
Tingzhen Mu ◽  
Maohua Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polyethylene Terephthalate ◽  
Plastic Waste ◽  
Recent Advances

Mechanism of boron tolerance in soil bacteria

2010 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iftikhar Ahmed ◽  
Toru Fujiwara
Keyword(s):  
Soil Bacteria ◽  
Gene Sequencing ◽  
16S Rrna Gene Sequencing ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Bacterial Strains ◽  
Tolerance Mechanisms ◽  
Boron Tolerance ◽  
Rrna Gene Sequencing ◽  
Comparative Phylogenetic Analysis

Boron (B) is toxic to living cells at levels above a certain threshold. We isolated several B-tolerant bacterial strains from soil samples and studied them for possible mechanisms of B tolerance. 16S rRNA gene sequencing and comparative phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the isolates belong to the following 6 genera: Arthrobacter , Rhodococcus , Lysinibacillus , Algoriphagus , Gracilibacillus , and Bacillus . These isolates exhibited B-tolerance levels of 80, 100, 150, 300, 450, and 450 mmol/L, respectively, whilst maintaining a significantly lower intracellular B concentration than in the medium. Statistical analysis showed a negative correlation between the protoplasmic B concentration and the degree of tolerance to a high external B concentration. The kinetic assays suggest that the high B efflux and (or) exclusion are the tolerance mechanisms against a high external B concentration in the isolated bacteria.

scholarly journals Adsorptive Recovery of Cu2+ from Aqueous Solution by Polyethylene Terephthalate Nanofibres Modified with 2-(Aminomethyl)Pyridine

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (24) ◽  
pp. 11912
Author(s):  
Thandiwe Crystal Totito ◽  
Katri Laatikainen ◽  
Omoniyi Pereao ◽  
Chris Bode-Aluko ◽  
Leslie Petrik
Keyword(s):  
Aqueous Solution ◽  
Polyethylene Terephthalate ◽  
Formation Rate ◽  
Freundlich Isotherm ◽  
Plastic Waste ◽  
Planar Geometry ◽  
Batch Adsorption ◽  
Molecular Formula ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Waste Products

The accumulation of plastic waste products in the environment has adversely affected wildlife and human beings. Common plastics that accumulate in the environment are plastics that are made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polymer. PET plastic waste products can be recycled for beneficial use, which would reduce their negative impacts. In this study, modified PET or waste PET (WPET) from plastic bottles was blended with powder commercial 2-(aminomethyl)pyridine (SiAMPy) resin and electrospun into composite nanofibres and applied for Cu2+ adsorption. PET-SiAMPy or WPET-SiAMPy composite nanofibres fibre diameters from the HRSEM images were 90–140 nm and 110–155 nm, respectively. In batch adsorption experiments, PET-SiAMPy or WPET-SiAMPy composite nanofibres achieved Cu2+ adsorption equilibrium within 60 secs of contact time with 0.98 mmol/g (89.87%) or 1.24 mmol/g (96.04%) Cu2+ adsorption capacity. The Cu2+ complex formation rate (k) with WPET-SiAMPy was 0.0888 with the mole ratio of Cu2+ and WPET-SiAMPy nanofibres 1:2. The complex molecular formula formed was Cu(WPET-SiAMPy)2 with a square planar geometry structure. The WPET-SiAMPy nanofibres’ adsorption was best fitted to the Freundlich isotherm. WPET-SiAMPy composite nanofibres were considered highly efficient for Cu2+ adsorption from aqueous solution and could be regenerated at least five times using 5 M H2SO4.

scholarly journals Microbial Degradation of Plastics and Approaches to Make it More Efficient

Microbiology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 90 (6) ◽  
pp. 671-701
Author(s):  
I. B. Kotova ◽  
Yu. V. Taktarova ◽  
E. A. Tsavkelova ◽  
M. A. Egorova ◽  
I. A. Bubnov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polyethylene Terephthalate ◽  
Microbial Degradation ◽  
Microscopic Fungi ◽  
Slow Process ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Degradation Processes ◽  
Worldwide Production ◽  
Plastic Degradation

Abstract— The growing worldwide production of synthetic plastics leads to increased amounts of plastic pollution. Even though microbial degradation of plastics is known to be a very slow process, this capacity has been found in many bacteria, including invertebrate symbionts, and microscopic fungi. Research in this field has been mostly focused on microbial degradation of polyethylene, polystyrene, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Quite an arsenal of different methods is available today for detecting processes of plastic degradation and measuring their rates. Given the lack of generally accepted protocols, it is difficult to compare results presented by different authors. PET degradation by recombinant hydrolases from thermophilic actinobacteria happens to be the most efficient among the currently known plastic degradation processes. Various approaches to accelerating microbial plastic degradation are also discussed.

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