Interaction of Heavy Metals in Fungal Degradation of Polymeric Materials

[摘要] Plastics materials are one of the most popular in the present world but the accumulation of it in the environment leading to long-term environment, economic and waste management problems. In present research paper, microbial degradation of polymeric films was carried out by incubating films with Aspergillus niger strain in presence and absence of heavy metals (Cr, Cd, Zn, As). Biodegradation was measured in terms of mean weight loss, visual observation and Scanning Electron microscopy (SEM). Polymeric films that are incubated with A. niger in presence of chromium (Cr) & cadmium (Cd) metals, biodegradation rate are 3-4% higher than without metal after 60 days and in case of zinc (Zn) & arsenic (As) metals, negligible effect had shown. Further SEM analysis confirmed the degradation by revealing the presence of porosity and fragility of the fungal degraded polymer surface.

[学科分类] 药理学

[关键词] Prachi Agarwal;Himanshu Sharma;Ajit Joshi;Heavy metals;Copolymer;Polymeric films;Biodegradation