Biodegradation of plastics by the fungus Talaromyces aerugineus: implications for sustainable bioremediation and environmental responsibility

Abstract

The properties of plastics, such as being light, economical, flexible, strong, durable, and waterproof, have made it an essential part of daily life. However, disposing of this non-degradable material has become a significant global challenge. Therefore, among various plastic treatment methods, the safest way to dispose plastics is through biodegradation. Five strains were isolated for degradation studies: PDB-2, PDB-3, PDB-5, PDB-7, and NB-3. The Strain PDB-2 demonstrated the best degradation and was selected for further studies, henceforth referred as VSH PD-02. Further the fungal isolate VSH PD-2 was subjected to molecular identification based on 18S rRNA sequences and homology analysis, which showed the closest homology toward Talaromyces aerugineus. This study was aimed to develop a conceptual model for the biological degradation of plastic by microbes. The results of FTIR showed significant difference in molecular bonding after degradation period of 30 days. This research suggests that the polyethylene plastic material has undergone degradation due to the activity of the enzymes produced by these microorganisms. In conclusion, the study on plastic biodegradation by microorganisms, exemplified by Talaromyces aerugineus VSH PD -02 fungi, offers valuable insights with relevance to bioremediation. The ability of these microorganisms to break down plastics parallels the development of biodegradable drug delivery systems, tissue engineering scaffolds, and sustainable medical devices and packaging.