Waste-derived inoculum effects on soil microbial communities during polymer biodegradation
This study investigates how waste-derived, microbe-rich soil inoculums influence the aerobic biodegradation of different polymeric materials in soil environments. Natural soil was amended with inoculums derived from compost, activated sludge, plastic-contaminated soil, and oil-contaminated soil, and biodegradation performance was evaluated using standardized laboratory assays. High-throughput sequencing was used to characterize bacterial and fungal community shifts associated with polymer degradation. The generated sequencing data support the analysis of microbial community composition and dynamics under different soil-inoculum conditions and provide insights into microbially driven processes relevant to sustainable plastic waste management.