Biodegradation of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) by isolated fungi in solid waste medium

Journal Article · Mon Mar 15 04:00:00 EDT 2010 · Waste Management

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2009.09.027· OSTI ID:21357645

Zahra, Sahebnazar ^[1]; Mahsa, Mohammad-Taheri; Mohsen, Nosrati ^[1]

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1. Biotechnology Group, Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, P.O. Box 14115-143 (Iran, Islamic Republic of)

In this study, biodegradation of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) by isolated landfill-source fungi was evaluated in a controlled solid waste medium. The fungi, including Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus terreus and Fusarium solani, were isolated from samples taken from an aerobic aged municipal landfill in Tehran. These fungi could degrade LDPE via the formation of a biofilm in a submerged medium. In the sterilized solid waste medium, LPDE films were buried for 100 days in a 1-L flask containing 400 g sterile solid waste raw materials at 28 deg. C. Each fungus was added to a separate flask. The moisture content and pH of the media were maintained at the optimal levels for each fungus. Photo-oxidation (25 days under UV-irradiation) was used as a pretreatment of the LDPE samples. The progress of the process was monitored by measurement of total organic carbon (TOC), pH, temperature and moisture. The results obtained from monitoring the process using isolated fungi under sterile conditions indicate that these fungi are able to grow in solid waste medium. The results of FT-IR and SEM analyses show that A. terreus and A. fumigatus, despite the availability of other organic carbon of materials, could utilize LDPE as carbon source. While there has been much research in the field of LDPE biodegradation under solid conditions, this is the first report of degradation of LDPE by A. fumigatus.

• OSTI ID: 21357645
• Journal Information: Waste Management, Journal Name: Waste Management Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 30; ISSN WAMAE2; ISSN 0956-053X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
ASPERGILLUS
BIODEGRADATION
CARBON
CARBON SOURCES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ELEMENTS
EUMYCOTA
FOURIER TRANSFORM SPECTROMETERS
FUNGI
FUSARIUM
INFRARED SPECTRA
MANAGEMENT
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MICROSCOPY
MOISTURE
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PARASITES
PH VALUE
PHOTOGRAPHIC FILMS
PLANTS
POLYETHYLENES
POLYMERS
POLYOLEFINS
SANITARY LANDFILLS
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
SOLID WASTES
SPECTRA
SPECTROMETERS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES