The accumulation of plastics in the environment
is raising great concerns with respect to long-term
environmental, economic and waste management problems.
The aim of the present research was to investigate the
biodegradability of starch blended polyvinyl chloride films
in soil burial and controlled laboratory experiments using
selective fungal isolates. Clear surface aberrations as color
change and minor disintegration in polyvinyl chloride films
were observed after 90 days and later confirmed through
scanning electron microscopy. The fungal strains showing
prominent growth and adherence on plastic films were
isolated. One of the strains showing maximum activity was
selected and identified as
Phanerochaete chrysosporium
PV1 by rDNA sequencing. Fourier transform infrared
spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses
indicated considerable structural changes and transformation
in films in terms of appearance of new peaks at
3,077 cm
-1 (corresponding to alkenes) and decrease in
intensity of peaks at 2,911 cm
-1 (C–H stretching). It was
supported with a significant decrease in the molecular
weight of polymer film from 80,275 to 78,866 Da (treated)
through Gel permeation chromatography in shake flask
experiment. Moreover, the biodegradation of starch
blended polyvinyl chloride films was confirmed through
release of higher CO
2 (7.85 g/l) compared to control
(2.32 g/l) in respirometric method. So fungal strain
P. chrysosporium PV1 has great potential for use in bioremediation
of plastic waste.
