Development of tailored indigenous marine consortia for the degradation of naturally weathered polyethylene films.

ABSTRACT: This study investigated the potential of bacterial-mediated polyethylene (PE) degradation in a two-phase microcosm experiment. During phase I, naturally weathered PE films were incubated for 6 months with the indigenous marine community alone as well as bioaugmented with strains able to grow in minimal medium with linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) as the sole carbon source. At the end of phase I the developed biofilm was harvested and re-inoculated with naturally weathered PE films. Bacteria from both treatments were able to establish an active population on the PE surfaces as the biofilm community developed in a time dependent way. Moreover, a convergence in the composition of these communities was observed towards an efficient PE degrading microbial network, comprising of indigenou

SUBMITTER: Syranidou E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5571942 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature