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Distribution of poly(β-hydroxybutyrate) and poly(ε-caprolactone)aerobic degrading microorganisms in different environments

Journal of environmental polymer degradation volume 1, pages 227–233 (1993)Cite this article

Abstract

To assess the capacity of the natural environment for degrading plastics, the populations of poly(β-hydroxybutyrate)(PHB)-and poly(ε-caprolactone)(PCL)-degrading aerobic microorganisms and their ratios to the total number of microorganisms in soil samples were estimated by the plate count method with agar medium containing emulsified PHB or PCL. The numbers of the degrading microorganisms were determined by counting colonies that formed clear zones on the plate. It was found that PHB- and PCL-degrading (depolymerizing) microorganisms are distributed over many kinds of material, including landfill leachate, compost, sewage sludge, forest soil, farm soil, paddy soil, weed field soil, roadside sand, and pond sediment. Of total colony counts, the percentages of PHB and PCL degrading microorganisms were 0.2–11.4 and 0.8–11.0%, respectively. The results suggest that many kinds of degrading microorganisms are present in each environment and that specific consortia differing in biodegradation capacity are constructed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tsukuba Research Laboratory, Tokuyama Soda Co. Ltd., 40 Wadai, 300-42, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan

    Haruo Nishida

  2. National Institute of Bioscience and Human Technology, Agency of Industrial Science and Technology, 1-1, Higashi, 305, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan

    Yutaka Tokiwa

Authors
  1. Haruo Nishida
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  2. Yutaka Tokiwa
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Nishida, H., Tokiwa, Y. Distribution of poly(β-hydroxybutyrate) and poly(ε-caprolactone)aerobic degrading microorganisms in different environments. J Environ Polym Degr 1, 227–233 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01458031

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01458031

Key words

  • Biodegradable plastic
  • poly(β-hydroxybutyrate)
  • poly(ε-caprolactone)
  • aerobic degrading microorganisms
  • distribution
  • biodegradation capacity