Jump to main content
US EPA
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Search
Search
Main menu
Environmental Topics
Laws & Regulations
About EPA
Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)
Contact Us
Print
Feedback
Export to File
Search:
This record has one attached file:
Add More Files
Attach File(s):
Display Name for File*:
Save
Citation
Tags
HERO ID
2804342
Reference Type
Journal Article
Title
Abiotic and biotic degradation of oxo-biodegradable plastic bags by Pleurotus ostreatus
Author(s)
da Luz, JM; Paes, SA; Bazzolli, DM; Tótola, MR; Demuner, AJ; Kasuya, MC
Year
2014
Is Peer Reviewed?
1
Journal
PLoS ONE
EISSN:
1932-6203
Volume
9
Issue
11
Page Numbers
e107438
Language
English
PMID
25419675
DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0107438
Abstract
In this study, we evaluated the growth of Pleurotus ostreatus PLO6 using oxo-biodegradable plastics as a carbon and energy source. Oxo-biodegradable polymers contain pro-oxidants that accelerate their physical and biological degradation. These polymers were developed to decrease the accumulation of plastic waste in landfills. To study the degradation of the plastic polymers, oxo-biodegradable plastic bags were exposed to sunlight for up to 120 days, and fragments of these bags were used as substrates for P. ostreatus. We observed that physical treatment alone was not sufficient to initiate degradation. Instead, mechanical modifications and reduced titanium oxide (TiO2) concentrations caused by sunlight exposure triggered microbial degradation. The low specificity of lignocellulolytic enzymes and presence of endomycotic nitrogen-fixing microorganisms were also contributing factors in this process.
Home
Learn about HERO
Using HERO
Search HERO
Projects in HERO
Risk Assessment
Transparency & Integrity