Biodegradation of LDPE-based Vegetable Packaging Films through Bacteria Isolated from a Waste Disposal Site

Low density polyethylene (LDPE) is widely used plastic and its use has increased over the past few decades due to its extensive properties. The increased use of plastic generates an increasing amount of plastic waste making waste management more challenging and ultimately contributing to plastic pol...

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Main Authors: Hemlata Sharma, Deepesh Kumar Neelam
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Journal of Pure and Applied Microbiology 2025-06-01
Series:Journal of Pure and Applied Microbiology
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Online Access:https://microbiologyjournal.org/biodegradation-of-ldpe-based-vegetable-packaging-films-through-bacteria-isolated-from-a-waste-disposal-site/
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author Hemlata Sharma
Deepesh Kumar Neelam
author_facet Hemlata Sharma
Deepesh Kumar Neelam
author_sort Hemlata Sharma
collection DOAJ
description Low density polyethylene (LDPE) is widely used plastic and its use has increased over the past few decades due to its extensive properties. The increased use of plastic generates an increasing amount of plastic waste making waste management more challenging and ultimately contributing to plastic pollution. One possible solution to this issue is the biodegradation of LDPE by utilizing microorganisms which can be advantageous economically and environmentally. There are no studies specifically addressing the biodegradation of vegetable packaging LDPE films by bacteria isolated from waste disposal sites. In this study, bacteria that can degrade vegetable packaging LDPE films were isolated from waste disposal site located in Langdiyawas, Jaipur, Rajasthan. The isolates were screened for LDPE biodegradation using clear zone assay. In the presence of LDPE powder, isolates IRB1 and IRB13 were able to grow and produce clear zone surrounding the colony. Weight loss analysis has been done after 120 days of incubation to assess the biodegrading capability of the isolates. Isolates IRB1 and IRB13 significantly reduced the weight of LDPE film, resulting in weight loss of 19.94 ± 2.15% and 25.08 ± 1.18%, respectively. The efficacy of isolates was further confirmed using biofilm formation, hydrophobicity, fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. IRB1 and IRB13 have been identified as Enterobacter sp. and Bacillus sp., respectively by using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Both isolates have shown promising results towards LDPE biodegradation and could aid in the management of plastic waste, hence reducing plastic pollution.
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spelling doaj-art-10d08358eef94b4aaf8116d39648d19c2025-08-20T03:45:40ZengJournal of Pure and Applied MicrobiologyJournal of Pure and Applied Microbiology0973-75102581-690X2025-06-0119214341447https://doi.org/10.22207/JPAM.19.2.47Biodegradation of LDPE-based Vegetable Packaging Films through Bacteria Isolated from a Waste Disposal SiteHemlata SharmaDeepesh Kumar Neelamhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-4693-8075Low density polyethylene (LDPE) is widely used plastic and its use has increased over the past few decades due to its extensive properties. The increased use of plastic generates an increasing amount of plastic waste making waste management more challenging and ultimately contributing to plastic pollution. One possible solution to this issue is the biodegradation of LDPE by utilizing microorganisms which can be advantageous economically and environmentally. There are no studies specifically addressing the biodegradation of vegetable packaging LDPE films by bacteria isolated from waste disposal sites. In this study, bacteria that can degrade vegetable packaging LDPE films were isolated from waste disposal site located in Langdiyawas, Jaipur, Rajasthan. The isolates were screened for LDPE biodegradation using clear zone assay. In the presence of LDPE powder, isolates IRB1 and IRB13 were able to grow and produce clear zone surrounding the colony. Weight loss analysis has been done after 120 days of incubation to assess the biodegrading capability of the isolates. Isolates IRB1 and IRB13 significantly reduced the weight of LDPE film, resulting in weight loss of 19.94 ± 2.15% and 25.08 ± 1.18%, respectively. The efficacy of isolates was further confirmed using biofilm formation, hydrophobicity, fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. IRB1 and IRB13 have been identified as Enterobacter sp. and Bacillus sp., respectively by using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Both isolates have shown promising results towards LDPE biodegradation and could aid in the management of plastic waste, hence reducing plastic pollution.https://microbiologyjournal.org/biodegradation-of-ldpe-based-vegetable-packaging-films-through-bacteria-isolated-from-a-waste-disposal-site/low density polyethylenebiodegradationweight lossbiofilm formationhydrophobicity
spellingShingle Hemlata Sharma
Deepesh Kumar Neelam
Biodegradation of LDPE-based Vegetable Packaging Films through Bacteria Isolated from a Waste Disposal Site
Journal of Pure and Applied Microbiology
low density polyethylene
biodegradation
weight loss
biofilm formation
hydrophobicity
title Biodegradation of LDPE-based Vegetable Packaging Films through Bacteria Isolated from a Waste Disposal Site
title_full Biodegradation of LDPE-based Vegetable Packaging Films through Bacteria Isolated from a Waste Disposal Site
title_fullStr Biodegradation of LDPE-based Vegetable Packaging Films through Bacteria Isolated from a Waste Disposal Site
title_full_unstemmed Biodegradation of LDPE-based Vegetable Packaging Films through Bacteria Isolated from a Waste Disposal Site
title_short Biodegradation of LDPE-based Vegetable Packaging Films through Bacteria Isolated from a Waste Disposal Site
title_sort biodegradation of ldpe based vegetable packaging films through bacteria isolated from a waste disposal site
topic low density polyethylene
biodegradation
weight loss
biofilm formation
hydrophobicity
url https://microbiologyjournal.org/biodegradation-of-ldpe-based-vegetable-packaging-films-through-bacteria-isolated-from-a-waste-disposal-site/
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AT deepeshkumarneelam biodegradationofldpebasedvegetablepackagingfilmsthroughbacteriaisolatedfromawastedisposalsite