Isolation and Identification of Microplastic Degrading Bacteria from Plastic-Polluted Soil
Keywords:
Soil, Pollution, Microplastic, Bacteria DegradationAbstract
Abstract— Plastic pollution has become a pressing environmental concern due to its widespread presence and persistence in terrestrial ecosystems. This study isolated and identified the microplastic-degrading bacteria from plastic-polluted soils in Osun State, Nigeria. Soil samples were collected from six zones, and their physicochemical properties, pH, and temperature, were analyzed. Microbial isolation and identification were carried out using morphological and biochemical tests. The pH ranged from
8.2 to 8.8. and the temperature ranged from 25°C to 29.1°C. Microbiological assessments revealed high bacterial counts, with total viable bacterial counts ranging from 2.5 x 106 to 4.0 x 106 CFU/g. Four bacterial strains were isolated: Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus amyloliticus, and Streptococcus spp. Degradation studies using Bushnell Haas Broth showed that Bacillus amyloliticus and Bacillus subtilis achieved the highest plastic weight loss of 45.0% over eight weeks, followed by Bacillus licheniformis (37.5%) and Streptococcus spp. (30.0%). Bacillus amyloliticus demonstrated rapid degradation, with a 9.0% weight loss within two weeks. The study confirms that Bacillus strains, particularly B. subtilis and B. amylolyticus, are promising candidates for bioremediation of plastic pollution.
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