BIODEGRADATION OF LOW-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE BY A NOVEL FUNGUS, SAPROCHAETE PSYCHROPHILA

Abstract

Polyethylene (PE) waste accumulation poses a significant threat to global ecosystems due to its extreme resistance to natural degradation. While microbial biodegradation offers a promising solution, most identified degraders operate optimally at mesophilic temperatures, limiting their application in cold environments [1-10]This study explores the potential of a psychrophilic fungus, Saprochaete psychrophila, to degrade low-density polyethylene (LDPE) at low temperatures. Cultivated in minimal salt medium with LDPE as the sole carbon source for 120 days, S. psychrophila demonstrated a weight reduction of 15.2%. Biodegradation was confirmed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which revealed significant surface erosion, pitting, and void formation. Furthermore, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) detected the appearance of new peaks corresponding to carbonyl (1715 cm-1) and hydroxyl (3300 cm-1) groups, indicating active oxidation of the polymer backbone. These findings suggest that S. psychrophila is a promising candidate for bioremediation.