Biodeterioration of Untreated Polypropylene Microplastic Particles by Antarctic Bacteria

Habib, Syahir and Iruthayam, Anastasia and Abd Shukor, Mohd Yunus and Alias, Siti Aisyah and Smykla, Jerzy and Yasid, Nur Adeela (2020) Biodeterioration of Untreated Polypropylene Microplastic Particles by Antarctic Bacteria. Polymers, 12 (11). ISSN 2073-4360, DOI https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12112616.

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Abstract

Microplastic pollution is globally recognised as a serious environmental threat due to its ubiquitous presence related primarily to improper dumping of plastic wastes. While most studies have focused on microplastic contamination in the marine ecosystem, microplastic pollution in the soil environment is generally little understood and often overlooked. The presence of microplastics affects the soil ecosystem by disrupting the soil fertility and quality, degrading the food web, and subsequently influencing both food security and human health. This study evaluates the growth and biodegradation potential of the Antarctic soil bacteria Pseudomonas sp. ADL15 and Rhodococcus sp. ADL36 on the polypropylene (PP) microplastics in Bushnell Haas (BH) medium for 40 days. The degradation was monitored based on the weight loss of PP microplastics, removal rate constant per day (K), and their half-life. The validity of the PP microplastics' biodegradation was assessed through structural changes via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyses. The weight loss percentage of the PP microplastics by ADL15 and ADL36 after 40 days was 17.3% and 7.3%, respectively. The optimal growth in the BH media infused with PP microplastics was on the 40th and 30th day for ADL15 and ADL36, respectively. The infrared spectroscopic analysis revealed significant changes in the PP microplastics' functional groups following the incubation with Antarctic strains.

Item Type: Article
Funders: UNSPECIFIED
Uncontrolled Keywords: Plastic pollution; Pristine fellfield soil; Polypropylene; Pseudomonas sp; Rhodococcus sp
Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences
G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GF Human ecology. Anthropogeography
Divisions: Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research & Innovation) Office > Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences
Depositing User: Ms Zaharah Ramly
Date Deposited: 29 Nov 2023 12:17
Last Modified: 29 Nov 2023 12:17
URI: http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/36286

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