Abstract
Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is a synthetic plastic used globally in quantities ranging from 57 million tonnes per year. The increasing accumulation rate and non-biodegradability are wreaking havoc on the organism and the environment. The biodegradation method can be used in a more environmentally friendly way to eliminate plastics from the soil. The microbial population is primarily involved in biodegradation because it is capable of secreting specific enzymes that cleave higher molecular weight molecules in LDPE, increasing the rate of biodegradation and eliminating them from the environment. This chapter focuses on the steps involved in the biodegradation process, like biodeterioration, biofragmentation, bioassimilation, and mineralization. Several other factors have contributed to the process’s speeding up. The exposure circumstances (abiotic—moisture, pH, temperature, nutrients; biotic—microbe exposure) on LDPE, as well as polymer characteristics (molecular weight, hydrophobicity, size, shape, functional groups, additives) of an LDPE, have a significant impact in this regard. Nanoparticles (SPION, NBT, fullerene-60) and other pretreatments (UV treatment, prooxidants, photocatalysis) are promising techniques for combining with bacteria to increase biodegradation results.
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The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this chapter. For logistics and support, the authors thank Bodoland University, India.
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Shyam, S., Sarma, H. (2023). Biodegradation of Low-Density Polyethylenes (LDPE) Using Microbial Consortia. In: Sarma, H., Joshi, S. (eds) Land Remediation and Management: Bioengineering Strategies. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-4221-3_15
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