Isolation, Identification, and Characterization of Polystyrene-Degrading Bacteria From the Gut of Galleria Mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) Larvae.

ABSTRACT: Polystyrene (PS) is a widely used petroleum-based plastic, that pollutes the environment because it is difficult to degrade. In this study, a PS degrading bacterium identified as Massilia sp. FS1903 was successfully isolated from the gut of Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) larvae that were fed with PS foam. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray energy dispersive spectrometry showed that the structure and morphology of the PS film was destroyed by FS 1903, and that more oxygen appeared on the degraded PS film. A water contact angle assay verified the chemical change of the PS film from initially hydrophobic to hydrophilic after degradation. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy further demonstrated that more oxygen-containing functional groups were generated during PS

SUBMITTER: Jiang S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8416307 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature