Biodegradation of Polyethylene by Enterobacter sp. D1 from the Guts of Wax Moth Galleria mellonella.
Liu RenLina MenZhiwei ZhangFeifei GuanJian TianBin WangJihua WangYuhong ZhangWei ZhangPublished in: International journal of environmental research and public health (2019)
Plastic polymers are widely used in agriculture, industry, and our daily life because of their convenient and economic properties. However, pollution caused by plastic polymers, especially polyethylene (PE), affects both animal and human health when they aggregate in the environment, as they are not easily degraded under natural conditions. In this study, Enterobacter sp. D1 was isolated from the guts of wax moth (Galleria mellonella). Microbial colonies formed around a PE film after 14 days of cultivation with D1. Roughness, depressions, and cracks were detected on the surface of the PE film by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed the presence of carbonyl functional groups and ether groups on the PE film that was treated with D1. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS) also revealed that the contents of certain alcohols, esters, and acids were increased as a result of the D1 treatment, indicating that oxidation reaction occurred on the surface of the PE film treated with D1 bacteria. These observations confirmed that D1 bacteria has an ability to degrade PE.
Keyphrases
- human health
- atomic force microscopy
- liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry
- electron microscopy
- risk assessment
- room temperature
- reduced graphene oxide
- climate change
- high speed
- simultaneous determination
- ms ms
- solid phase extraction
- gold nanoparticles
- microbial community
- single molecule
- single cell
- nitric oxide
- hydrogen peroxide
- replacement therapy
- health risk assessment