Study the Ability of Penicillium Roqueforti in Degradation of Plastic Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)

Abstract

In this study, the fungus Penicillium roqueforte was isolated from the soil and tested for its ability to decompose light polyethylene. Two methods were used. In the first method, polyethylene was mixed with PDA medium at concentrations of 20 mg/mL and 40 mg/mL. The results showed that polyethylene was not a fungus inhibitor, but rather stimulated its growth. The second method focused on the growth elements in mushrooms whose carbon source is contained in polyethylene. Thus, the carbon source in the agricultural medium, PDA, was replaced by a polyethylene material. The rate of inhibition of fungal growth was about 23%. After that, and then again, the modified medium was used to isolate the fungi from several places from the air inside the building where the laboratory is and outside the building as well, and many fungi were isolated from them. "Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus spp, Penicillium spp.Polyethylene was extracted from the Media in which the fungi under study were grown and fungi isolated from the air, for the purpose of its thorough study by using an X-ray analyzer to determine the extent of decomposition of polyethylene. The results of the analysis showed that the fungus was able to break the polyethylene chain material, and the samples were also examined with FTIR and the results showed the ability of the fungus to oxidize polyethylene and thus the results showed the ability of the fungus to rid the environment of polyethylene difficult to decompose.