ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A PLASTIC DEGRADING MICROBE FROM INSECT GUT
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Abstract
Microbial degradation of plastics has been traditionally studied in soil microbes. In this study, plastic-degrading microbes were isolated from the midgut and hindgut of cockroach (Periplaneta americana) using minimal media containing polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP). These microbes could also survive in polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) containing media, as confirmed by decrease in weight, thin layer chromatography and FTIR analysis. Identified as strains of Enterobacter cloacae and Klebsiella pneumoniae, these microbes show promising potential for sustainable plastic biodegradation and mitigation of plastic pollution.
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