Evaluation of Microalgae’s Plastic Biodeterioration Property by a Consortium of Chlorella sp. and Cyanobacteria sp.

Authors

  • Mr Prakash Bhuyar Algae Biotechnology Laboratory, Faculty of Industrial Sciences & Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Lebuhraya Tun Razak, 26300 Gambang, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
  • Sathyavathi Sundararaju Department of Pathology, Sidra Medicine, Doha -26999, Qatar
  • Ho Xuan Feng Algae Biotechnology Laboratory, Faculty of Industrial Sciences & Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Lebuhraya Tun Razak, 26300 Gambang, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
  • Mohd Hasbi Ab. Rahim Algae Biotechnology Laboratory, Faculty of Industrial Sciences & Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Lebuhraya Tun Razak, 26300 Gambang, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
  • Sudhakar Muniyasamy Nanostructured and Advanced Materials, Chemicals Cluster, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Pretoria, South Africa
  • Gaanty Pragas Maniam Algae Biotechnology Laboratory, Faculty of Industrial Sciences & Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Lebuhraya Tun Razak, 26300 Gambang, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
  • Natanamurugaraj Govindan Algae Biotechnology Laboratory, Faculty of Industrial Sciences & Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Lebuhraya Tun Razak, 26300 Gambang, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5755/j01.erem.77.3.25317

Keywords:

phycodegradation, microalgae, plastic pollution microplastics, EPS

Abstract

Malaysia is one of the top eight countries that has a drawback of mismanaged plastic waste. This study intended to investigate polymer degradation using the biological technique with the help of microalgae to minimise the time required for biodegradation. This research article aims to identify the collected sample with the most suitable microalgae for the biodegradation of microplastic and to analyse the biodegradation of the polymer by microalgae. The results revealed that the consortium of Chlorella sp. and Cyanobacteria sp. were able to deteriorate low-density polyethene (LDPE sample) through several stages, and this was confirmed by UV-Spec, FESEM, EDX, CHNO, FTIR and DSC analysis. The results obtained revealed that microalgae producing exopolysaccharides (EPS) decreased the carbon and oxygen ratio. According to SEM micrographs, microalga may colonise, agglomerate, and adhere microplastics to its surface, regardless of its fractional size. The EDX analysis showed that the initial composition of carbon was 92.30 ± 1.23 %, while after the incubation, the carbon composition started decreasing from 53.18 % to 39.12 ± 1.08 %. Finally, there was a 37.91 % decrease in carbon weight from elemental analysise

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Published

2021-09-30

Issue

Vol. 77 No. 3 (2021)

Section

Articles

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