Abstract

SCREENING AND IDENTIFICATION OF EFFICIENT POLYHYDROXYBUTYRATE PRODUCING BACTERIA FROM PLASTIC WASTES DUMPED SOIL SAMPLES.

Packialakshmi N.* and Badhru Nisha R.

Abstract

The soil samples were collected from the polythene and plastic waste dumped site area of Sankarapuram. The collected samples were subjected to serial dilution and plating technique. The isolated microbial strains were identified based on their cultural morphological and biochemical study. To identify the PHB producers from nonproducers Carbol fuchsin staining was carried, for this staining Bacillus species found to have dark colored granules within their cells. For further confirmation PHB producers were stained with Sudan black, the results observed as dark black to purple granules against pink back ground when counter stained with Safranin. Polythene bag degradation (broth and tray method) by Bacillus species were observed for one month. After the incubation color changes softness of plastics were observed due to the degrading action of microbes. The green gram seeds were inoculated in 3 pots each pot treated with Bacillus strain I, II, III, the growth rate were analyzed. Compared with other two strain the Bacillus megaterium gave the maximum growth. The FT-IR analysis identified the functional groups.

Keywords: Plastic degrading microbes, PHB producers and FT-IR analysis.