Abstract
Biodegradation is an eco-friendly measure to address plastic pollution. This study screened four bacterial isolates that were capable of degrading recalcitrant polymers, i.e., low-density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polystyrene. The unique bacterial isolates were obtained from plastic polluted environment. Dermacoccus sp. MR5 (accession no. OP592184) and Corynebacterium sp. MR10 (accession no. OP536169) from Malaysian mangroves and Bacillus sp. BS5 (accession no. OP536168) and Priestia sp. TL1 (accession no. OP536170) from a sanitary landfill. The four isolates showed a gradual increase in the microbial count and the production of laccase and esterase enzymes after 4 weeks of incubation with the polymers (independent experiment set). Bacillus sp. BS5 produced the highest laccase 15.35 ± 0.19 U/mL and showed the highest weight loss i.e., 4.84 ± 0.6% for PS. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis confirmed the formation of carbonyl and hydroxyl groups as a result of oxidation reactions by enzymes. Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis showed the oxidation of the polymers to small molecules (alcohol, ethers, and acids) assimilated by the microbes during the degradation. Field emission scanning electron microscopy showed bacterial colonization, biofilm formation, and surface erosion on the polymer surface. The result provided significant insight into enzyme activities and the potential of isolates to target more than one type of polymer for degradation.
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Acknowledgements
The authors acknowledge Berjaya Sanitary Landfill, Bukit Tagar, Selangor, Malaysia, for leachate and bio-sludge samples and the Forest Department of Peninsular Malaysia, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for soil sample collection from mangrove forest.
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This research was supported by funding from the Monash University Malaysia Post-Doctoral Fellowship Grant (STG-000058), Advancing Women’s Success Grant 2022 (CNI000054) award, and Tropical Medicine & Biology (TMB) (PLT000033) grant awarded to the first author to pursue research in microbial microplastic degradation.
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Pooja Singh: conceptualization, methodology, validation, data curation, and writing-original draft. Claudeen Sze Siang Lau: methodology, validation, and data curation. Sze Yin Siah: methodology, validation, and data curation. Kah Ooi Chua: bioinformatics analysis and review. Adeline Su Yien Ting: supervision and review.
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Singh, P., Lau, C.S.S., Siah, S.Y. et al. Microbial degradation of low-density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polystyrene by novel isolates from plastic-polluted environment. Arch Microbiol 206, 188 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-024-03895-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-024-03895-8