The Effects of Different Aquatic Environments on the Rate of Polyethylene Biodegradation by Bacilus Subtilis

The proliferation of plastics in consumer products is resulting in the release of countless tons of plastic waste into the environment. Due to their chemical composition, plastics take hundreds of years to decompose. The world today is overrun by plastic waste that occupies landfills, makes its way into rivers and oceans and is choking several ecosystems. Current methods of handling the waste are proving to be inadequate, ineffective or harmful. Recycling merely postpones the entry of plastic waste into landfills and oceans. The toxic chemicals in plastics left in landfills interact with water and leach into the ground and pollute groundwater reservoirs harming wildlife and people. Incineration releases toxins into the atmosphere. In recent years, scientists have discovered bacterium that degrades and assimilates PET (polyethylene terephthalate). Microbes have been shown to have the ability to ‘eat’ petroleum based products like natural gas and light sweet crude from oil spills. The ability of bacteria to decompose certain types of plastic make them a potential bioremediation option. This aim of this study is to test the ability of a common bacteria called Bacillus Subtilis, to degrade High-Density and Low-Density Polyethylene in aquatic environments. The rates of degradation were studied and compared across fresh water, brackish water and saline water samples.