title: Enhancing Degradation of Low Density Polyethylene Films by Curvularia lunata SG1 Using Particle Swarm Optimization Strategy.
abstract: In the present study, artificial neural network (ANN) modelling coupled with particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm was used to optimize the process variables for enhanced low density polyethylene (LDPE) degradation by Curvularia lunata SG1. In the non-linear ANN model, temperature, pH, contact time and agitation were used as input variables and polyethylene bio-degradation as the output variable. Further, on application of PSO to the ANN model, the optimum values of the process parameters were as follows: pH = 7.6, temperature = 37.97 °C, agitation rate = 190.48 rpm and incubation time = 261.95 days. A comparison between the model results and experimental data gave a high correlation coefficient ([Formula: see text]). Significant enhancement of LDPE bio-degradation using C. lunata SG1by about 48 % was achieved under optimum conditions. Thus, the novelty of the work lies in the application of combination of ANN-PSO as optimization strategy to enhance the bio-degradation of LDPE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Gandhi Institute of Engineering and Technology, Gunupur, Rayagada, 765 022 Odisha India.
authors.forename: Sangeeta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raut
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Gandhi Institute of Engineering and Technology, Gunupur, Rayagada, 765 022 Odisha India.
authors.forename: Smita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raut
authors.affiliation: Materials Science Center, IIT, Kharagpur, 721 302 West Bengal India.
authors.forename: Manisha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: VIT University, Vellore, 632 014 Tamil Nadu India.
authors.forename: Chaitanya
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Srivastav
authors.affiliation: Materials Science Center, IIT, Kharagpur, 721 302 West Bengal India.
authors.forename: Basudam
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Adhikari
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Gandhi Institute of Engineering and Technology, Gunupur, Rayagada, 765 022 Odisha India.
authors.forename: Sudip Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Sen
keywords: Low density polyethylene; Modelling; Optimization; Waste utilization