Abstract

INVESTIGATION OF GARBAGE SOIL FOR POLYETHYLENE DEGRADING MICROORGANISMS AND STUDY THEIR GROWTH

K. Shrikant*, T. Abha and Chauhan U. K.

ABSTRACT

Plastic and polythene waste amassing in the environment are posing an ever increasing ecological threat. Biodegradable plastics are environment friendly; they have an increasing range of potential application and are determined by the growing use of plastics as wrapper. In this study, biodegradation of polythene bag and plastic cup were analyzed 2, 4 and 6 month of incubation in liquid culture method. The heterotrophic population of microbes in polythene and plastics, bacterial counts was recorded. The microbial species associated with the polythene materials were identified as Pseudomonas sp, Bacillus sp, Staphylococcus sp, Aspergillus nidulans, Aspergillus flavus and Streptomyces sp. Efficacy of the microbes in degradation of polythene and plastics were analyzed in liquid (shaker) culture method, among the bacteria Pseudomonas sp degrade 47.09% of polythene and 38.42% of plastics in 6 month period. Among the fungal species 20.96% of polythene and 16.84% of plastics and Streptomyces species 46.16% of polythene and 35.78% of plastics.

Keywords: Biodegradation, Garbage soil, Polythene, Plastics, Streptomyces sp.