Ability of Trichoderma hamatum Isolated from Plastics-Polluted Environments to Attack Petroleum-Based, Synthetic Polymer Films

0533324 - MBÚ 2021 RIV CH eng J - Journal Article
Malachová, K. - Novotný, Čeněk - Adamus, G. - Lotti, N. - Rybková, Z. - Soccio, M. - Šlosarčíková, P. - Verney, V. - Fava, F.
Ability of Trichoderma hamatum Isolated from Plastics-Polluted Environments to Attack Petroleum-Based, Synthetic Polymer Films.
Processes. Roč. 8, č. 4 (2020), č. článku 467. E-ISSN 2227-9717
Institutional support: RVO:61388971
Keywords : low-density polyethylene * microbial-degradation * biodegradation * plastic-polymer degradation * Trichoderma hamatum
OECD category: Microbiology
Impact factor: 2.847, year: 2020
Method of publishing: Open access
https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9717/8/4/467

Microorganisms colonizing plastic waste material collected in composting-, landfill-, and anaerobic digestion plants were isolated to obtain novel strains maximally adapted to the degradation of plastics due to long-term contact with plastic polymers. Twenty-six bacterial strains were isolated and identified by the 16 S rRNA method, and eighteen strains of yeasts and fungi using 18 S rRNA and the internal transcribed spacer ITS sequencing of the 18 S rRNA gene. In selected strains, the ability to degrade linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polystyrene (PS), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) was tested in aerobic liquid-medium cultures. An oxidative, two-step pretreatment of LLDPE and LDPE using gamma- or UV-irradiation followed by a high-temperature treatment was carried out, and the pretreated plastics were also included in the degradation experiments. The respective weight losses after biodegradation by Trichoderma hamatum were: virgin and gamma/T90-pretreated LLDPE (2.2 +/- 1.2 and 3.9 +/- 0.5%), virgin and UV/T60-pretreated LDPE (0.5 +/- 0.4 and 1.3 +/- 0.4%), and virgin PS (0.9 +/- 0.4%). The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis showed that during the treatment of pretreated LLDPE, T. hamatum attacked low molecular weight LLDPE oligomers, reducing the functional groups (carbonyl C = O), which was paralleled by a slight increase of the molar mass of pretreated LLDPE and a decrease of the dispersity index, as demonstrated by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) highlighted the formation of functional groups on LLDPE due to polymer pretreatment that favored fungal attack at the polymer surface. The results provide insight into microbial consortia that spontaneously colonize the surface of plastics in various environments and their capability to attack plastic polymers.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0311733