Comparative studies on crosslinked and uncrosslinked natural rubber biodegradation by Pseudomonas sp

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Polymer Science
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Natural rubber is a widely used biopolymer.
• Understanding its biodegradation is crucial for waste management and environmental remediation.
• Microbial degradation offers a sustainable alternative to conventional rubber disposal methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the biodegradation efficiency of Pseudomonas sp. on di-cumyl peroxide (DCP) crosslinked and uncrosslinked natural rubber.
• To investigate the extent of rubber hydrocarbon utilization by the bacteria.
• To analyze the structural and mechanical changes in natural rubber during biodegradation.

Main Methods:

• Incubation of both crosslinked and uncrosslinked natural rubber with Pseudomonas sp.
• Monitoring of organic carbon content.
• Measurement of tensile strength.
• Analysis of chemical structure using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).

Main Results:

• Pseudomonas sp. demonstrated the ability to utilize rubber hydrocarbons in both forms.
• Biodegradation led to a decrease in organic carbon content.
• Uncrosslinked natural rubber showed a more significant reduction in tensile strength (60.88% MPa) compared to DCP crosslinked rubber (41.66% MPa) after five months.
• Chemical analysis indicated more pronounced biodegradation in uncrosslinked rubber, evidenced by aldehydic compound formation and decreased CH2 stretching frequencies.

Conclusions:

• Pseudomonas sp. effectively biodegrades natural rubber.
• The biodegradation process is more efficient in uncrosslinked natural rubber than in DCP crosslinked natural rubber.
• Microbial degradation offers a promising route for managing natural rubber waste.