Biodegradation of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) by Microbes An experimental study

Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is a widely used plastic that accumulates and causes severe environmental pollution. This study aims to find and identify microbes that can degrade LDPE. Samples were taken from dump yard soil and effluent to isolate bacteria and fungi using specific media. The microbes were identified using molecular techniques like PCR and sequencing. The identified bacteria were Bacillus subtilis Strain JCL16 and Micrococcus luteus, and the fungi were Aspergillus niger and Fusarium oxysporum isolate R. These microbes were tested for LDPE degradation after pretreatment with oven heating and UV radiation. Micrococcus luteus reduced the weight of oven-heated LDPE from 100 mg to 90 mg, while Aspergillus niger showed a 11% degradation with UV treatment by the end of 75 days. Bacillus subtilis bacteria and Fusarium fungi from soil sample had shown 7% and 5.8 % degradation in the same time among which Effluent sample containing Aspergillus niger and Micrococcus luteus had shown highest degradation of LDPE. This study had shown that UV radiation speeds up LDPE biodegradation, helping to identify and culture microbes that can degrade this plastic and protect the environment.