title: Augmentation of a Microbial Consortium for Enhanced Polylactide (PLA) Degradation.
abstract: Bioplastics are eco-friendly and derived from renewable biomass sources. Innovation in recycling methods will tackle some of the critical issues facing the acceptance of bioplastics. Polylactic acid (PLA) is the commonly used and well-studied bioplastic that is presumed to be biodegradable. Considering their demand and use in near future, exploration for microbes capable of bioplastic degradation has high potential. Four PLA degrading strains were isolated and identified as Penicillium chrysogenum, Cladosporium sphaerospermum, Serratia marcescens and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa. A consortium of above strains degraded 44 % (w/w) PLA in 30 days time in laboratory conditions. Subsequently, the microbial consortium employed effectively for PLA composting.
authors: Biotechnology Division, CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST), Trivandrum, 695 019 India.
authors: Nimisha R
authors: NR
authors: Nair
authors: Biotechnology Division, CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST), Trivandrum, 695 019 India.
authors: Vini C
authors: VC
authors: Sekhar
authors: Biotechnology Division, CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST), Trivandrum, 695 019 India.
authors: K Madhavan
authors: KM
authors: Nampoothiri
keywords: Biodegradability; Enzymatic degradation; Microbial degradation; Polylactic acid