Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Biodegradation of Linear Low Density Polyethylene by Serratia marcescens subsp. marcescens and its Cell Free Extracts

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Waste and Biomass Valorization Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper presents the results of an experimental study of the bacterial-mediated biodegradation of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) by Serratia marcescens subsp. marcescens (S. marcescens marcescens) bacterium without prior exposure of the LLDPE to thermo-oxidative aging. Degradation promoted by supernatant from S. marcescens marcescens was also studied, and compared to that promoted by direct exposure to S. marcescens marcescens cells. The results show that the cell-free extracts degrade LLDPE faster than the S. marcescens marcescens. The mechanisms of degradation are also elucidated via Scanning Electron Microscopy, Differential Scanning Calorimetry and Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy. These methods show that the S. marcescens marcescens and its supernatant both degrade LLDPE. There was also an increase in the concentrations of the carbonyl groups (new peaks) after the microbial degradation of LLDPE. The degradation process results in the formation and growth of microvoids. The latter are also found to coalesce to form larger defects with increasing exposure to supernatant/cell-free extracts or S. marcescens marcescens.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Seymour, R.B.: Polymer science before and after 1899: notable developments during the lifetime of Maurtis Dekker. J. Macromol. Sci., Pure Appl. Chem. 26, 1023–1032 (1899)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Scott, G.: Polymers in Modern Life; Polymers and the Environment. The Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Mueller, R.: Biological degradation of synthetic polyesters—enzymes as potential catalysts for polyester recycling. Proc. Biochem. 41, 2124–2128 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Sivan, A.: New perspectives in plastic biodegradation. Curr. Opin. Biotechnol. 22, 422–426 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Shah, A.A., Hasan, F., Hameed, A., Ahmed, S.: Biological degradation of plastics: a comprehensive review. Biotechnol. Adv. 26, 246–265 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Nanda, S., Sahu, S.S.: Biodegradability of polyethylene by Brevibacillus, Pseudomonas, and Rhodococcus spp. N. Y. Sci. J. 3(7), 95–98 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Nanda, S., Sahu, S.S., Abbraham, J.: Studies on the biodegradation of natural and synthetic polyethylene by Pseudomonas spp. J. Appl. Sci. Environ. Manage. 14(2), 57–60 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Orhan, Y., Buyukgungor, H.: Enhancement of biodegradability of disposable polyethylene in controlled biological soil. Int. Biodeterior. Biodegrad. 45, 49–55 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Shimao, M.: Biodegradation of plastics. Curr. Opin. Biotechnol. 12, 242–247 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Ghosh, S.K., Pal, S., Ray, S.: Study of microbes having potentiality for biodegradation of plastics. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. (2013). doi:10.1007/s11356-013-1706-x

    Google Scholar 

  11. Rivard, C., Moens, L., Roberts, K., Brigham, J., Kelley, S.: Starch esters as biodegradable plastics: effects of ester group chain length and degree of substitution on anaerobic biodegradation. Enzym Microb. Technol. 17, 848–852 (1995)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Pospisil, J., Nespurek, S.: Highlights in chemistry and physics of polymer stabilization. Macromol. Symp. 115, 143–163 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Zheng, Y., Yanful, E.K.: A review of plastic waste biodegradation. Crit. Rev. Biotechnol. 25, 243–250 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Sangale, M.K., Shanawaz, M., Ade, A.B.: A review on biodegradation of polythene: the microbial approach. J. Bioremed. Biodeg. 3, 164 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Singh, B., Sharma, N.: Mechanistic implications of plastic degradation. Polym. Degrad. Stab. 93(3), 561–584 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Bonhomme, S., Cuer, A., Delort, A.M., Lemaire, J., Sancelme, M., Scott, G.: Environmental biodegradation of polyethylene. Polym. Degrad. Stab. 81, 441–452 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Piringer, O.G., Baner, A.L.: Plastic Packaging: Interactions with Food and Pharmaceuticals (2ed.). Wiley, ISBN: 9783527314553

  18. Johnson, E., Pometto, A.L., Nikolov, Z.L.: Degradation of degradable starch-polyethylene plastics in a compost environment. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 59, 1155–1161 (1993)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Mahalakshmi, V., Andrew, S.N.: Assessment of physicochemically treated plastic by fungi. Ann. Biol. Res. 3(9), 4374–4381 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Kawai, F.: Breakdown of plastics and polymers by microorganisms. Adv. Biochem. Eng. Biotechnol. 52, 151–194 (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Augusta, J., Müller, R.J., Widdecke, H.: A rapid evaluation plate-test for the biodegradability of plastics. Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 39, 673–678 (1993)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Witt, U., Müller, R.J., Deckwer, W.D.: Biodegradation behavior and material properties of aliphatic/aromatic polyesters of commercial importance. J. Environ. Polym. Degrad. 15, 81–89 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Witt, U., Einig, T., Yamamoto, M., Kleeberg, I., Deckwer, W.D., Müller, R.J.: Biodegradation of aliphatic–aromatic copolyesters: evaluation of the final biodegradability and ecotoxicological impact of degradation intermediates. Chemosphere 44, 289–299 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Hoffmann, J., Reznícková, I., Kozáková, J., Ružicka, J., Alexy, P., Bakoš, D., Precnerová, L.: Assessing biodegradability of plastic based on poly(vinyl alcohol) and protein wastes. Polym. Degrad. Stab. 79, 511–519 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Hadad, D., Geresh, S., Sivan, A.: Biodegradation of polyethylene by thermophilic bacterium Brevibacillus borstelensis. J. Appl. Microbiol. 98, 1093–1100 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Mahalakshmi, V., Siddiq, A., Andrew, S.N.: Analysis of polyethylene degrading potentials of microorganisms isolated from compost soil. Int. J. Pharm. Biol. Arch. 3(5), 1190–1196 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  27. Albertsson, A.C.: The shape of the biodegradation curve for low and high density polyethylenes in prolonged series of experiments. J. Eur. Polym. 16, 623–630 (1980)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Yamada-Onodera, K., Mukumoto, H., Katsuyaya, Y., Saiganji, A., Tani, Y.: Degradation of polyethylene by a fungus. Penicillium simplicissimum YK. Polym. Degrad. Stab. 72, 323–327 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Aamer, A.S., Hasan, F., Hameed, A., Javed, I.A.: Isolation of Fusarium sp. AF4 from sewage sludge, with the ability to adhere the surface of 45 polyethylene, African. J. Microbiol. Res. 3(10), 658–663 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  30. Gu, J.D., Ford, T.E., Mitton, D. B., Mitchell, R.: Microbial degradation and deterioration of polymeric materials. In: Review (ed) The Uhlig Corrosion Handbook (2nd Ed.), pp. 439–460. Wiley, New York (2000)

  31. Gu, J.D.: Microbiological deterioration and degradation of synthetic polymeric materials. Recent Res. Adv. Int. Biodeterior. Biodegrad. 52, 69–91 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Restrepo-Flórez, J.-M., Bassi, A., Thompson, M.R.: Microbial degradation and deterioration of polyethylene—a review. Int. Biodeterior. Biodegrad. 88, 83–90 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Bikiaris, D., Aburto, J., Alric, I., Borredon, E., Botev, M., Betchev, C.: Mechanical properties and biodegradability of LLDPE blends with fatty-acid esters of amylase and starch. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 71, 1089–1100 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Tribedi, P., Sil, A.K.: Low-density polyethylene degradation by Pseudomonas sp. AKS2 biofilm. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 20(6), 4146–4153 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Olsen, R.A., Bakken, L.R.: Viability of soil bacteria: optimization of plate-counting technique and comparison between total counts and plate counts within different size groups. Microb. Ecol. 13, 59–74 (1987)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Kleinheinz, G.T., Bagley, S.T.: A filter-plate method for the recovery and cultivation of microorganisms utilizing volatile organic compounds. J. Microbiol. Methods 29, 139–144 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Touno, K., Harada, K., Yoshimatsu, K., Yazaki, K., Shimomura, S.: Derivative formation on the stem of cultured shoots in Lithospermum erythrorhizon. Plant Cell Rep. 19(11), 1121–1126 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Murashige, T., Skoog, F.: A revised medium for rapid growth and bioassays with tobacco tissue cultures. Physiol. Plant. 15(3), 473–497 (1962)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Wundelick, B., Cormier, C.M.: Heat of fusion of polyethylene. J. Polym. Sci. Part A-2 Polym. Phys. 5, 987–988 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  40. Mirabella, F.M., Bafna, A.: Determination of the crystallinity of polyethylene/α-olefin copolymers by thermal analysis: Relationship of the heat of fusion of 100% polyethylene crystal and the density. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 40(15), 1637–1643 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Williams, R.F., Gott, C.L., Qadri, S.M.H., Scott, R.H.: Influence of temperature of incubation and type of growth medium on pigmentation in Serratia marcescens. J. Bacteriol. 106, 438–443 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  42. Rjazantseva, I.N., Andreeva, I.N., Ogorodnikova, T.I.: Effect of various growth conditions on pigmentation of Serratia marcescens. Microbios 79(320), 155–161 (1984)

    Google Scholar 

  43. Hejazi, A., Falkiner, F.R.: Serratia marcescens. J. Med. Microbiol. 46, 903–912 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Venil, C.K., Lakshmanaperumalsamy, P.: An insightful overview on microbial pigment, prodigiosin. Electron. J. Biol. 5, 49–61 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  45. Sudhakar, M., Doble, M., Murthy, P.S., Venkatesan, R.: Marine microb-mediated biodegradation of low- and high-density polyethylenes. Int. Biodeterior. Biodegrad. 61, 203–213 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Raghavan, D., Torma, A.E.: DSC and FTIR characterization of biodegradation of polyethylene. Polym. Eng. Sci. 32, 438–442 (1992)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Albertsson, A.-C., Barensted, C., Karlsson, S., Lindberg, T.: Degradation product pattern and morphology changes as means to differentiate abiotically and biotically aged degradable polyethylene. Polymer 36, 3075–3083 (1995)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Manzur, A., Cuamatzi, F., Favela, E.: Effect of the growth of Phanerochaete Chrysosporium in a blend of low density polyethylene and sugar cane bagasse. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 66, 105–111 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Volke-Sepulveda, T., Saucedo-Castañeda, G., Gutierrez-Rojas, M., Manzur, A., Favela-Torres, E.: Thermally treated low density polyethylene biodegradation by Penicillium pinophilum and Aspergillus niger. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 83, 305–314 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Santo, M., Weitsman, R., Sivan, A.: The role of the copper-binding enzyme–laccase—in the biodegradation of polyethylene by the actinomycete Rhodococcus ruber. Int. Biodeterior. Biodegrad. 208, 1–7 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  51. Khabbaz, F., Albertsson, A.C., Karlsson, S.: Chemical and morphological changes of environmentally degradable poly(ethylene) films exposed to thermo-oxidation. Polym. Degrad. Stab. 63, 127–138 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Balasubramanian, V., Natarajan, K., Hemambika, B., Ramesh, N., Sumathi, C., Kottaimuthu, R., Rajesh Kannan, V.: High-density polyethylene (HDPE)- degrading potential bacteria from marine ecosystem of Gulf of Mannar, India. Lett. Appl. Microbiol. 51, 205–211 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  53. Nowak, B., Pająk, J., Drozd-Bratkowicz, M., Rymarz, G.: Microorganisms participating in the biodegradation of modified polyethylene films in different soils under laboratory conditions. Int. Biodeterior. Biodegrad. 65, 757–767 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. Gilan, I., Hadar, Y., Sivan, A.: Colonization, biofilm formation and biodegradation of polyethylene by a strain of Rhodococcus ruber. Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 65, 97–104 (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  55. Manzur, A., Limón-González, M., Favela-Torres, E.: Biodegradation of physicochemically treated LLDPE by a consortium of filamentous fungi. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 92, 265–271 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  56. Chiellini, E., Corti, A., D’Antone, S.: Oxo-biodegradable full carbon backbone polymers–biodegradation behaviour of thermally oxidized polyethylene in an aqueous medium. Polym. Degrad. Stab. 92, 1378–1383 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  57. Albertsson, A.-C., Andersson, S.O., Karlsson, S.: The mechanism of biodegradation of polyethylene. Polym. Degrad. Stab. 18, 73–87 (1987)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. Harshvardhan, K., Jha, B.: Biodegradation of low-density polyethylene by marine bacteria from pelagic waters, Arabian Sea, India. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 77(1), 100–106 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  59. Devi, R.S., Kannan, V.R., Nivas, D., Kannan, K., Chandru, S., Antony, A.R.: Biodegradation of HDPE by Aspergillus spp. from marine ecosystem of Gulf of Mannar, India. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 96(1–2), 32–40 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  60. Artham, T., Sudhakar, M., Venkatesan, R., Madhavan Nair, C., Murty, K., Doble, M.: Biofouling and stability of synthetic polymers in sea water. Int. Biodeterior. Biodegrad. 63, 884–890 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the STEP B program of the World Bank, the World Bank African Centers of Excellence Program, the African Capacity Building Foundation, the Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO), Princeton University and the Nelson Mandela Institution and the African University of Science and Technology. The authors are grateful to these sponsors for their support.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Km 10 Airport Road, P.M.B 681, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria

    S. T. Azeko, O. S. Odusanya & W. O. Soboyejo

  2. Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO), Km 32 Abuja-Lokoja Expressway, Abuja, Nigeria

    G. A. Etuk-Udo & O. S. Odusanya

  3. Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA

    K. Malatesta & W. O. Soboyejo

  4. Princeton Institute of Science and Technology of Materials, 70 Prospect Street, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA

    K. Malatesta & W. O. Soboyejo

  5. Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Bronx Community College, Bronx, NY, 10453, USA

    N. Anuku

Authors
  1. S. T. Azeko
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. G. A. Etuk-Udo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. O. S. Odusanya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. K. Malatesta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. N. Anuku
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. W. O. Soboyejo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to W. O. Soboyejo.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Azeko, S.T., Etuk-Udo, G.A., Odusanya, O.S. et al. Biodegradation of Linear Low Density Polyethylene by Serratia marcescens subsp. marcescens and its Cell Free Extracts. Waste Biomass Valor 6, 1047–1057 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-015-9421-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-015-9421-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation