Abstract:
Bioplastics are eco-friendly and derived from
renewable biomass sources. Innovation in recycling
methods will tackle some of the critical issues facing the
acceptance of bioplastics. Polylactic acid (PLA) is the
commonly used and well-studied bioplastic that is presumed
to be biodegradable. Considering their demand and
use in near future, exploration for microbes capable of
bioplastic degradation has high potential. Four PLA
degrading strains were isolated and identified as Penicillium
chrysogenum, Cladosporium sphaerospermum, Serratia
marcescens and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa. A
consortium of above strains degraded 44 % (w/w) PLA in
30 days time in laboratory conditions. Subsequently, the
microbial consortium employed effectively for PLA
composting.
