Plastic pollution has emerged as a significant and persistent environmental problem. We aimed to isolate and screen microbial strains capable of degrading polyethylene (PE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). We collected soil from sites with a history of plastic pollution. Of the isolated bacterial and fungal strains, three fungal strains, Aspergillus versicolor (PE-1), Aspergillus aflatoxiformans (PVC-1), and Aspergillus versicolor (PVC-3), were screened positively for possessing a high degradation potential. The UV-radiation-mediated enhanced degradation process was analyzed using several techniques, including weight loss assessment, fungal biomass determination, and advanced techniques such as FTIR, SEM, GC–MS, and XRD. The results indicated significant weight losses of 23.0
The development of biomaterials for environmental bioremediation has emerged as a sustainable and promising strategy, becoming a consolidated research area within the field of contaminated soil treatment. In this context, advances in material science and biotechnology have enabled the development of innovative immobilization supports that improve microbial stability, protection, and biodegradation performance. Among these materials, polymeric matrices combined with natural biodegradable components have demonstrated significant potential for enhancing pesticide degradation efficiency while reducing environmental impacts. However, the accurate, standardized, and robust characterization of biocompatibility remains a critical challenge, which limits the large-scale application and commercialization of these biomaterials. To address this knowledge gap, this review discusses the importance of biocompatibility classification, microbial immobilization strategies, and viability assessment methods for microorganisms entrapped in different matrices. Additionally, it underscores the imperative for the development of more dependable quality control methodologies to guarantee the efficacy, safety, and scalability of biomaterial-based bioremediation technologies.
Perchlorate (ClO4−) is a global contaminant that has been detected in various environmental matrices. ClO4− is considered an emerging pollutant because of its potent endocrine-disrupting effects, which impairs iodine uptake in the thyroid gland, and its high toxicity and persistence. Therefore, the development of technologies for its reduction in ecosystems is imperative; bioremediation is a promising technology for ClO4− reduction. In this study, bacterial strains isolated from marine sediments at Cierva Point, an Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA No. 134), were characterized. The methodology consisted of four stages: i) isolation of the bacterial strains; ii) characterization of isolated strains by morphological, biochemical, and molecular traits; iii) susceptibility tests against NaCl and ClO4−; iv) ClO4− removal assays using a selective electrode. The strains grew at 10 °C for 7 days and tolerated NaCl concentrations up to 30
In this study, bacterial consortium AF-3 comprising of four herbicide-degrading bacterial strains was evaluated for the remediation of a ternary mixture of fluroxypyr-meptyl, mesosulfuron-methyl and florasulam. The consortium consisted of Rhodococcus rhodochrous, Bordetella petrii, Achromobacter sp. and Paracoccus pantotrophus. AF-3 showed strong degradation potential against the herbicide mixture in liquid culture. Taguchi L9 screening showed herbicide-specific effects of pH, temperature, medium composition and herbicide concentration. Because optimum conditions differed among the three herbicides, a common practical condition of pH 8.0, 35 °C, MSM and 0.5 mg L⁻1 of each herbicide was selected for a separate ternary-mixture validation experiment. AF-3 degraded 98
Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (P(3-HB)) is a biodegradable, biocompatible polyester widely recognized as a credible, environmentally friendly alternative to conventional plastics. However, its wider use is limited by high production costs, to which the carbon source contributes substantially. This study investigated P(3-HB) production from thermally pretreated cheese whey, a low-cost, high-strength dairy by-product, by Stutzerimonas stutzeri BPSNITW100893, a strain isolated from food waste collected at the National Institute of Technology Warangal. FTIR, 1H NMR and GC–MS confirmed the characteristic chemical structure of P(3-HB), while XRD and HR-SEM indicated its semicrystalline nature and characteristic surface morphology; EDX confirmed the predominant carbon and oxygen composition of the recovered polymer; DLS analysis further indicated a hydrodynamic diameter of 148.66 nm for the dispersed polymer. Optimization of four factors using a rotatable central composite design (rCCD) located the optimum at a C/P ratio of 104.5 (w/w), a fermentation time of 51.8 h, an inoculum-to-substrate ratio of 7.02
