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. 2016:2016:9519527.
doi: 10.1155/2016/9519527. Epub 2016 May 12.

Production of Laccase by Cochliobolus sp. Isolated from Plastic Dumped Soils and Their Ability to Degrade Low Molecular Weight PVC

Tirupati Sumathi  1 , Buddolla Viswanath  2 , Akula Sri Lakshmi  1 , D V R SaiGopal  1
Affiliations

Production of Laccase by Cochliobolus sp. Isolated from Plastic Dumped Soils and Their Ability to Degrade Low Molecular Weight PVC

Tirupati Sumathi et al. Biochem Res Int. 2016.

Abstract

One of the utmost man-made problems faced today has been the ever-increasing plastic waste filling the world. It accounts for an estimated 20-30% (by volume) of municipal solid waste in landfill sites worldwide. Research on plastic biodegradation has been steadily growing over the past four decades. Several fungi have been identified that produce enzymes capable of plastic degradation in various laboratory conditions. This paper presents a study that determined the ability of fungi to degrade low molecular weight polyvinyl chloride (PVC) by the enzyme laccase. We have isolated a fungal species, Cochliobolus sp., from plastic dumped soils and they were cultured on Czapek Dox Agar slants at 30°C. The effectiveness of this fungal species on the degradation of commercial low molecular weight polyvinyl chloride (PVC) was studied under laboratory conditions. Significant differences were observed from the FTIR, GC-MS, and SEM results in between control and Cochliobolus sp. treated PVC.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Isolated potential fungal strain showing oxidative polymerization of guaiacol to form reddish brown zones in the medium on 4th day.
Figure 2
Figure 2
SEM image of potential fungal isolate-2.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Phylogenetic tree of isolated potential fungi.
Figure 4
Figure 4
PVC as a carbon source utilized by potential fungal strain Cochliobolus sp.
Figure 5
Figure 5
(a) PVC control SEM image. (b) PVC-BTS SEM image.
Figure 6
Figure 6
(a) FTIR results of PVC control sample. (b) PVC-biotreated sample, one-year incubation period.
Figure 7
Figure 7
(a) Mass spectrum PVC-BTS treated with potential fungal strain chromatogram. (b) Mass spectrum of PVC control sample. (c) Chromatogram of substances with molecular weights.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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