Polyethylene Biodegradation by an Artificial Bacterial Consortium: Rhodococcus as a Competitive Plastisphere Species.

ABSTRACT: Polyethylene (PE), a widely used recalcitrant synthetic polymer, is a major global pollutant. PE has very low biodegradability due to its rigid C-C backbone and high hydrophobicity. Although microorganisms have been suggested to possess PE-degrading enzymes, our understanding of the PE biodegradation process and its overall applicability is still lacking. In the present study, we used an artificial bacterial consortium for PE biodegradation to compensate for the enzyme availability and metabolic capabilities of individual bacterial strains. Consortium members were selected based on available literature and preliminary screening for PE-degrading enzymes, including laccases, lipases, esterases, and alkane hydroxylases. PE pellets were incubated with the consortium for 200 days. A next-genera

SUBMITTER: Putcha JP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11427307 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature