Biodegradation of polystyrene by intestinal symbiotic bacteria isolated from mealworms, the larvae of Tenebrio molitor.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Polystyrene is a plastic that leads to environmental pollution. In particular, expanded polystyrene is very light and takes up much space, causing additional environmental problems. The aim of this study was to isolate new symbiotic bacteria which degraded polystyrene from mealworms.

Methods

The population of polystyrene degrading bacteria was increased by enrichment culture of intestinal bacteria from mealworms with polystyrene as a sole carbon source. The degradation activity of isolated bacteria was evaluated by morphological change of micro-polystyrene particles and the surface change of polystyrene films.

Results

Eight isolated species (Acinetobacter septicus, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Klebsiella grimontii, Pseudomonas multires

SUBMITTER: Park JW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10329137 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature