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Biodegradation of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) by a new Penicillium oxalicum strain DSYD05-1

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Abstract

In this study, fungi isolated from soil were screened for their ability to form clear zones on agar plates with emulsified poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL). The most active strain, designated as DSYD05, was identified as Penicillium oxalicum on the basis of morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis. Mutant DSYD05-1, obtained by ultraviolet-light mutagenesis from strain DSYD05, was more effective in PCL degradation. In liquid cultures of the mutant strain with PCL emulsion, DSYD05-1 showed the highest PCL-degrading activity after 4 days of cultivation. The products of PCL degradation were analysed by mass spectrometry; the results indicated that 6-hydroxyhexanoic acid was produced and assimilated during cultivation. The degradation of PCL film by DSYD05-1 was observed by scanning electron microscopy, and was indicative of a three-stage degradation process. The degradation of amorphous parts of the film preceded that of the crystalline center and then the peripheral crystalline regions. In addition, DSYD05-1 showed a wide range of substrate specificity, with capability to degrade PCL, poly(β-hydroxybutyrate), and poly(butylene succinate), but not poly(lactic acid), indicating that the strain could have potential for application in the treatment or recycling of bio-plastic wastes.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 31100046).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Life Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130024, China

    Fan Li, Xiumei Lin, Dongbo Liu, Hongmei Xia & Shan Chen

  2. Changchun Medical College, Changchun, 130013, China

    Dan Yu

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  1. Fan Li
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  2. Dan Yu
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  3. Xiumei Lin
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  4. Dongbo Liu
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  5. Hongmei Xia
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  6. Shan Chen
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Correspondence to Shan Chen.

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Li, F., Yu, D., Lin, X. et al. Biodegradation of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) by a new Penicillium oxalicum strain DSYD05-1. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 28, 2929–2935 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-012-1103-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-012-1103-5

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