Potential Degradation of Low- and High-Density Polyethylene Films by Ochrobactrum intermedium SA1 from Sewage Sludge

Accumulation of plastic waste is an alarming environmental concern across globe. For which, microbial degradation offers an efficient ecofriendly solution. Thus, the present study focuses on the exploration of new bacterium that can grow on and utilize polyethylene. Ochrobactrum intermedium SA1 isolated from sewage sludge (Jaipur, India) was characterized and evaluated for growth on both thermally pre-treated and untreated low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) films in synthetic medium at 35 °C and pH 6.5 for 30 days. The bacterium was grown successfully on the polyethylene films such that 3.458 ± 0.373% and 1.586 ± 0.142% gravimetric weight loss was observed for LDPE and HDPE films, respectively. Further, LDPE and HDPE films showed highest decrease in tensile strength of 126.67% and 75.62%, respectively which was corelated with atomic force microscopy analysis depicting the increase in surface roughness after incubation with the bacterial isolate. Therefore, we believe that more detailed studies will establish Ochrobactrum intermedium SA1 as a potential tool in clearing the global burden of plastics.