Biodegradation of Polyurethane by Fungi Isolated from Industrial Wastewater—A Sustainable Approach to Plastic Waste Management

Author:

Rajan Aiswarya1,Ameen Fuad2,Jambulingam Ranjitha3,Shankar Vijayalakshmi3ORCID

Affiliation:

1. School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore 632014, India

2. Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia

3. CO2 Research and Green Technologies Center, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore 632014, India

Abstract

Polyurethane (PU) is a type of polymer, which exists in various forms in the environment. Very few studies are available concerning the structure or enzymatic mechanism of the microbial community, which can degrade PU. Degradation of PU remains a difficult problem with respect to the environmental and biological disciplines. This study mainly focused on identifying the micro-organisms able to degrade polyurethane and confirming the degradation by performing a plate assay, Sturm test and scanning electron microscopy. Optimal culture conditions for maximum PU degradation were also analyzed through classical methods. A soil burial test was conducted by placing polyurethane films in the soil for one month, and the microbe growing on the surface of polyurethane films—with a maximum degradation of 55%—was isolated and identified as Aspergillus versicolor (ARF5). The culture medium was also optimized with different physical and chemical parameters for maximum PU degradation. The presence of CO2 as a by-product of PU biodegradation was confirmed through the Sturm test.

Funder

King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Publisher

MDPI AG

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