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3700814 
Journal Article 
Capability of selected mushrooms to biodegrade polyethylene 
Nwogu, NA; Atuanya, E; Akpaja, EO 
2012 
3 
4 
455-462 
WOS:000209511000009 
Many natural polymers are susceptible to microbial attack but synthetic polymers such as high-molecular weight polyethylene are generally difficult to degrade by microorganisms. Environmental concerns have led us to seek ways to resolve the problem that recalcitrant plastics pose on the ecology. The biodegradability of polyethylene films by selected exotic mushrooms was examined. In screening for the best polyethylene degrading-fungus, Pleurotus tuber-regium grew fastest on mineral salt medium containing polyethylene powder as sole carbon and energy followed by P. pulmonarius. Lentinus squarrosulus and Rigidoporus lignosus grew least on the medium. Degradation of polyethylene by P. tuber-regium and P. pulmonarius was determined by weight loss of sample and chemical changes measured by Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy. Polyethylene biodegraded by P. tuber-regium and P. pulmonarius gave weight losses of 13.26% and 9.67% respectively. FTIR analysis showed additional absorbance at regions corresponding to carbonyl groups in the spectra of polyethylene biodegraded by P. tuber-regium and P. pulmonarius, suggesting that polyethylene was degraded oxidatively. The enzyme assays showed that Manganese peroxidase (MnP) may be the main enzyme involved in polyethylene degradation. These results suggest the capability of P. tuber-regium and P. pulmonarius to degrade polyethylene. 
White-rot fungi; biodegradation; ligninolytic enzymes; polymer