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Isolation of a soil bacterium for remediation of polyurethane and low-density polyethylene: a promising tool towards sustainable cleanup of the environment

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Abstract

A soil bacterium, designated strain AKS31, was isolated on the plastic polyurethane (PUR) and based on the molecular and biochemical analysis was tentatively assigned to the genus Pseudomonas. Preliminary studies suggested that strain AKS31 had the capability of biodegrading polyurethane (PUR) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE). This observation was confirmed by the analysis of the biodegradation products. The hydrolyzed products of PUR analyzed sequentially by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) showed the presence of diethylene glycol suggesting the presence of an esterase. A gene that could be involved in producing an esterase-like activity (PURase gene) was identified after the amplification and sequencing of a PCR product. Fourier Transformed Infrared (FTIR) spectrophotometric analysis of AKS31-treated LDPE film revealed the incorporation of hydroxyl groups suggesting the involvement of a hydroxylase in the degradation of LDPE. It is established that plastics form microplastics and microbeads in soils which negatively impact the health of living organisms and there have been concentrated research efforts to remediate this problem. Microcosm studies revealed that when strain AKS31 was bioaugmented with soil both the polymers were degraded during which time the heterotrophic plate counts, soil respiration and soil organic carbon content increased but this was not the case with the control nonbioaugmented microcosm. The results demonstrate that the strain AKS31 may have the potential in biodegradation of PUR and LPDE present as plastic microbeads and thereby improving soil health. Further studies in this direction are warranted.

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Fig. 1

source and incubated. Films were removed from the culture at the indicated time points, washed and their surface topology was examined by AFM. Image is representative of three independent experiments. d AKS31 could grow in a minimal medium containing LDPE as the sole carbon source. An aliquot of the saturated culture of AKS31 was added to different tubes containing the minimal medium with or without LDPE films as indicated, and turbidity was monitored after 15 days of incubation. This experiment was repeated at least three times. e The tensile strength of LDPE films was reduced after treatment with AKS31. AKS31 was allowed to grow in minimal medium containing LDPE films as the sole carbon source. Films were removed at the indicated time points, washed, and subjected to tensile strength measurement. The result represents the average of three independent experiments. The error bar indicates standard deviation (± SD).*p < 0.05, **p < 0.001. f AKS31 altered the surface topography of LDPE film. AKS31 was inoculated in minimal medium containing LDPE films as the sole carbon source and incubated. Films were removed from the culture at indicated time points, washed and their surface topology was examined by AFM. Image is representative of three independent experiments. All the above experiments entailed incubation at 30 °C

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source of carbon for 5 days and 30 days, respectively. Next, cells were harvested, washed with sterile water, and subsequently BATH assay was performed to determine the cell surface hydrophobicity. The results represent the average of three independent experiments. The error bar indicates the standard deviation (± SD). *p < 0.01***p < 0.0001

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Acknowledgements

Authors would like to thank Professor Srimonti Sarkar, Bose Institute, Kolkata for the critical reading and constructive criticism during the manuscript preparation. This work is supported by a grant from the Department of Science and Technology, Government of West Bengal, India (701/(Sanc.)/ST/P/S & T/2G-3/2010, Dated 03.12.2015). RR (UGC-NET Fellow) and GM (CSIR-NET Fellow) extend sincere thanks to the UGC and CSIR, Govt. of India, respectively, for providing financial assistance for carrying out the research work. Thanks to DBT-IPLS programme at the University of Calcutta for various instrumental support.

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  1. Prosun Tribedi

    Present address: Department of Biotechnology, The Neotia University, Sarisha, West Bengal, 743368, India

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  1. Department of Microbiology, University of Calcutta, 33 B. C. Road, Kolkata, 700019, India

    Rusha Roy, Goutam Mukherjee, Anirban Das Gupta, Prosun Tribedi & Alok Kumar Sil

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Roy, R., Mukherjee, G., Das Gupta, A. et al. Isolation of a soil bacterium for remediation of polyurethane and low-density polyethylene: a promising tool towards sustainable cleanup of the environment. 3 Biotech 11, 29 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13205-020-02592-9

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