Rubber gloves biodegradation by a consortium, mixed culture and pure culture isolated from soil samples.

ABSTRACT: An increasing production of natural rubber (NR) products has led to major challenges in waste management. In this study, the degradation of rubber latex gloves in a mineral salt medium (MSM) using a bacterial consortium, a mixed culture of the selected bacteria and a pure culture were studied. The highest 18% weight loss of the rubber gloves were detected after incubated with the mixed culture. The increased viable cell counts over incubation time indicated that cells used rubber gloves as sole carbon source leading to the degradation of the polymer. The growth behavior of NR-degrading bacteria on the latex gloves surface was investigated using the scanning electron microscope (SEM). The occurrence of the aldehyde groups in the degradation products was observed by Fourier Transform Infrare

SUBMITTER: Nawong C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6112053 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul - Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature