Biodegradation of low-density polyethylene by plasma-activated Bacillus strain

Plastic biodegradation by microorganisms is an eco-friendly and sustainable method without any ramifications. Herein, we used a cultivation method and 16S rRNA sequencing to screen bacteria that can efficiently colonize and degrade low-density polyethylene (LDPE) from various plastic wastes. We identified Bacillus safensis BS-10L through whole-genome sequencing analysis and verified its LDPE-degradation ability. However, the decomposition mechanism of the isolated bacteria was unclear and the decomposition efficiency was insufficient, so low-temperature plasma was used to increase the decomposition efficiency of the bacteria. The population and viability of bacteria treated with cold plasma increased. Plasma-activated bacteria could induce cracks, holes, and roughness on the surface of LDPE films over 90 days, and over 30 days; the LDPE film lost 13.40 ± 0.013% and 27.78 ± 0.014% of its mass by BS-10L and plasma-treated BS-10L, respectively. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopic analysis identified new peaks of the C=O and C-O groups in the plasma-treated LDPE film, exhibiting high transmittance in the LDPE film that was inoculated with bacteria. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic analysis showed that C-O bonds were generated by BS-10L strain, and relatively strong C=O bonds were generated in the film inoculated with plasma-treated BS-10L strain. Plasma treatment increased the colonization of the BS-10L strain and changed the chemical bonding of the LDPE film, suggesting that plasma-activated BS-10L could accelerate decomposition by oxidation by increasing the carbonyl group of the PE film. Therefore, plasma technology may be effective for enhancing the plastic-degrading ability of microorganisms.