Biodegradation of Petroleum-Based Plastic Using Bacillus sp.

Over the last few decades, petroleum-based plasticsPlastic have been used in an uncontrolled manner due to their attractive characteristics, posing severe environmental challenges that need to be immediately addressed. Literature indicates some microorganisms for plastic degradation. Bacillus sp. was found capable of degrading various polymersPolymers such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, and polyurethane. This study investigated the growth and morphological features of Bacillus sp. culture, and its ability to decompose untreated polypropylene (PP) plastics using a mineral salt medium in an incubator shaker at 37 ºC with 120 rpm for 4 weeks. The bacterial growth was spectrophotometrically measured at OD595nm. pH and weight loss measurement provided the extent of plasticPlastic degradation. The significant increment in pH of the media towards alkalinity confirmed the degradation of the PP plastics. The preliminary results of 1-week and 4-weeks long incubation suggest that Bacillus sp. assisted plasticPlastic degradation might be a feasible approach for diminishing this environmental challenge.