POLYETHYLENE BIODEGRADATION IN THE PRESENCE OF TITANIA (TiO2) NANOPARTICLES

Abstract

Polyethylene (PE) is used for wide range of commercial purposes like carrying, storing and packaging in many ways. Because of its low degradation and continuous persistence in the environment, it poses long-term effects on all sectors of environment and public health as it is building up in to the environment in the form of dumps with passage of time. Biodegradation and degradation from nanoparticles both have proven to be useful for Polyethylene degradation in their own ways. This research collates the significance of nano-microbial interaction which can considerably influence the process of biodegradation. Soiled plastic samples were taken from four dumpsites of Islamabad and Rawalpindi and serial dilutions and streaking were performed to isolate dominant microbial strains. Further, identification process included gram staining, biochemical tests and gene sequencing. Using 16S rRNA analysis, potential Polyethylene degrading strain was identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Concentration of titania nanopaticles (TNPs) for growth of microbes was optimized in nutrient broth media. Final experiment was performed in M9 media using polyethylene as carbon source with microbes and titania nanoparticles (TNPs). Results showed considerable enhancement in biodegradation of polyethylene in the presence of titania nanoparticles (TNPs). This study may lead to a better solution for PE deterioration in the form of nano-bioremediation in plastic sector as well as disposal sites.