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Degradation of polyurethane by novel bacterial consortium isolated from soil

  • Ecological and Environmental Microbiology
  • Original Articles
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Abstract

The present study describes the isolation of bacteria from soil with the ability to degrade plastic polyurethane (PU). Bacterial strains attached on the polyurethane film, after soil burial for 6 months, were isolated and identified asBacillus sp. AF8,Pseudomonas sp AF9,Micrococcus sp. 10,Arthrobacter sp. AF11, andCorynebacterium sp. AF12. In plate assay, zones of hydrolysis were visualised around the bacterial colonies on mineral salt agar plates containing polyurethane as a sole carbon source. The results of the Sturm test for degradability showed more CO2 production in the test than in control. The production of esterase was detected in the presence of polyurethane as a substrate. The Scanning Electron Microscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy showed certain changes on the surface of PU film and formation of some new intermediate products after polymer breakdown.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biotechnology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad

    Aamer Ali Shah

  2. Department of Microbiology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad

    Fariha Hasan, Abdul Hameed & Safia Ahmed

  3. Physics Division, PINSTECH, Nilore, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Javed Iqbal Akhter

Authors
  1. Aamer Ali Shah
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  2. Fariha Hasan
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  3. Javed Iqbal Akhter
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  4. Abdul Hameed
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  5. Safia Ahmed
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Correspondence to Aamer Ali Shah.

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Shah, A.A., Hasan, F., Akhter, J.I. et al. Degradation of polyurethane by novel bacterial consortium isolated from soil. Ann. Microbiol. 58, 381–386 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03175532

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03175532

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