Fungal biodegradation of low-density polyethylene using consortium of Aspergillus species under controlled conditions

• Main Authors: Glen Cletus DSouza, Ryna Shireen Sheriff, Varun Ullanat, Aniruddh Shrikrishna, Anupama V. Joshi, Lingayya Hiremath, Keshamma Entoori
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2021-05-01
• Series: Heliyon
• Subjects: Biodegradation; Polyethylene; Fungi; Aspergillus niger; Aspergillus oryzae; Aspergillus flavus
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844021011117

Low-Density polyethylene is subject to biodegradation using a fungal consortium comprising of Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus oryzae under laboratory conditions. The extent of biodegradation has been compared with the use of potato dextrose broth and czapek dox broth media and also in the presence and absence of Tween 80 additive. Biodegradation was performed replacing the sucrose in czapek dox broth with shredded Low-Density polyethylene as well. The biodegradation was carried out for a period of 55 days. The degree of biodegradation has been analyzed using the loss of weight, FT-IR, and SEM analysis. A maximum weight loss of 26.15% was obtained by using potato dextrose broth over a period of 55 days.