title: Achromobacter xylosoxidans as a new microorganism strain colonizing high-density polyethylene as a key step to its biodegradation.
abstract: This study presents results of research on isolation new bacteria strain Achromobacter xylosoxidans able to effect on the structure of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polymer resistant to degradation in environment. New strain of A. xylosoxidans PE-1 was isolated from the soil and identified by analysis of the 16S ribosome subunit coding sequences. The substance to be degraded was HDPE in the form of thin foil films. The foil samples were analyzed with Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) as well as scanning electron microscope (SEM), and the results revealed degradation of chemical structure of HDPE. About 9 % loss of weight was also detected as a result of A. xylosoxidans PE-1 effect on HDPE foil. On the basis of comparative spectral analysis of the raw material before the bacteria treatment and the spectrum from a spectra database, it was assumed that the HDPE was the only source of carbon and energy for the microorganisms. No fillers or other additives used in the plastic processing were observed in HDPE before experiments. This is the first communication showing that A. xylosoxidans is able to modify chemical structure of HDPE, what was observed both on FTIR, in mass reduction of HDPE and SEM analysis. We also observed quite good growth of the bacteria also when the HDPE was the sole carbon source in the medium. These results prove that A. xylosoxidans is an organism worth applying in future HDPE biodegradation studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387, Krakow, Poland.|Department of Environment Protection, Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environment Protection, University of Science and Technology, Mickiewicza 30, 30-059, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kowalczyk
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Protection, Mickiewicza 8, 33-100, Tarnow, Poland.
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chyc
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Biology and Earth Sciences, Institute of Environmental Sciences, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Przemysław
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ryszka
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387, Krakow, Poland. dariuszlatowski@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Dariusz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Latowski
mesh_terms: D042441:Achromobacter denitrificans / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002244:Carbon / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D020959:Polyethylene / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D002244:Carbon; D020959:Polyethylene
keywords: Biodegradation; FTIR; HDPE; Microorganisms; Polymers; SEM