Screening of low density polyethylene degrading microorganisms

Abstract

Bacteria, actinobacteria, and micromycetes stored in the National Collection of NonPathogenic Microorganisms (CNMN) were assessed for the capacity to grow and degrade LDPE. There were tested 15 strains of bacteria from genera Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Streptomyces, and Rhodococcus, and 15 strains of micromycetes from genera Penicillium and Aspergillus. Among the studied bacterial strains, actinobacteria were more effective in LDPE degradation than bacilli and Pseudomonas spp. The members of genus Penicillium, in comparing with Aspergillus spp., degraded LDPE more actively.