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Updated: Jul 7, 2025

Isolation of Native Soil Microorganisms with Potential for Breaking Down Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films Used in Agriculture

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Published on: May 10, 2013

Exploring Microorganisms from Plastic-Polluted Sites: Unveiling Plastic Degradation and PHA Production Potential.

Diana A Garza Herrera¹, Marija Mojicevic¹, Brana Pantelic²

¹PRISM Research Institute, Technological University of the Shannon Midlands Midwest, N37HD68 Athlone, Ireland.

|December 23, 2023

Summary

Microorganisms from plastic-polluted environments were screened for plastic degradation abilities. Five strains produced polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) from PET, offering potential for sustainable plastic waste management.

Keywords:

biopolymers plastic degradation polyhydroxyalkanoates screening upcycling

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Published on: May 16, 2022

Area of Science:

Microbiology
Environmental Science
Biotechnology

Background:

Microorganisms have limited evolutionary adaptation time to conventional plastics.
Investigating microbial communities from plastic-polluted sites is crucial for discovering plastic-degrading capabilities.
The EU-funded BioICEP project focuses on innovative solutions for plastic waste.

Purpose of the Study:

To isolate and screen microorganisms from diverse polluted environments for plastic degradation potential.
To identify microbial strains capable of utilizing plastic-related substrates and producing valuable biopolymers.
To explore the application of identified strains in sustainable plastic waste management and upcycling.

Main Methods:

Isolation and screening of 150 microbial strains from plastic-polluted forests, soils, and landfill sites.
Cultivation and identification of 20 selected strains (including Streptomyces, Bacillus, Enterococcus, Pseudomonas) using morphological and 16S rRNA phylogenetic analysis.
Assessment of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production by selected strains using pre-treated post-consumer PET samples.

Main Results:

Twenty microbial strains demonstrated the ability to grow on plastic-related substrates.
Five of these strains successfully produced polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) when utilizing pre-treated post-consumer PET.
Priestia sp. DG69 and Neobacillus sp. DG40 were identified as the most efficient PHA producers (4.14% and 3.34% PHA, respectively).

Conclusions:

Microorganisms from plastic-polluted environments harbor significant potential for plastic degradation and biopolymer production.
The identified PHA-producing strains, Priestia sp. DG69 and Neobacillus sp. DG40, are promising candidates for upcycling plastic waste.
This research provides a foundation for developing sustainable strategies for managing plastic waste through microbial bioconversion.