Abstract:
High-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and polypropylene
(PP) account for more than half of plastic consumption, and their microplastic particles
resist natural decomposition in the environment, causing a major threat. In this study,
Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were examined to
determine their potency to decompose selected microplastics. It was found that
Pseudomonas aeruginosa achieved the highest degree of weight loss for HDPE (40.40 %),
LDPE (32.80 %), and PP (10.90 %), respectively. The secondary products produced after
the decomposition of microplastics were identified by GCMS, and various simple alkanes,
oxidation products, and carboxylic acid were formed. This research suggests that
microplastics can be degraded without a chemical process, presenting an eco-friendly
method for remediation.
