Micromorphological and chemical changes during biodegradation of Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) by Penicillium sp.

Degradation of poly (ethylene terephthalate) in nature is a time consuming processes . In order to accelerate the degradation process, fungi were isolated from the plastic wastes dumped soil and its potential to degrade PET was evaluated. PET in the form of powder and flakes were exposed to Penicillium sp. which was the dominate fungi present in plastic wastes dumped soil.SEM images of PET powder and flakes depicts fungal colonisation and growth. FTIR spectral analysis of PET powder reflect C-H bond stretching and PET flakes shows C=C bond and C=O and ester group formation. Thus both structural and chemical changes were evident in the PET inoculated with Penicillium sp.] Key Words: Biodegradation, Polyethylene terephthalate, SEM, FTIR , Penicillium sp.