title: Abiotic and biotic degradation of oxo-biodegradable plastic bags by Pleurotus ostreatus.
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.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Maria Rodrigues
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: da Luz
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sirlaine Albino
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Paes
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Denise Mara Soares
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Bazzolli
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcos Rogério
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Tótola
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Antônio Jacinto
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Demuner
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Catarina Megumi
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kasuya
mesh_terms: D063566:Biodegradable Plastics / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental / Q000528:radiation effects; D002482:Cellulose / Q000378:metabolism; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008031:Lignin / Q000378:metabolism; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000378:metabolism; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009586:Nitrogen Fixation; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020076:Pleurotus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013472:Sunlight; D013997:Time Factors; D014025:Titanium / Q000378:metabolism; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D063566:Biodegradable Plastics; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D011108:Polymers; C009495:titanium dioxide; D002482:Cellulose; D008031:Lignin; D014025:Titanium; D010088:Oxidoreductases; C029130:nitrogenase reductase