Biodegradation of Pharmaceutical Plastics by Native Bacteria: Experimental Assessment of Efficiency and Environmental Potential
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.71068/w0tapa42Keywords:
Biodegradation, Pharmaceutical plastics, Native bacteria, Bacterial consortium, Waste managementAbstract
The extensive use of pharmaceutical plastics, such as multilayer blister packs and medical packaging, has contributed to persistent plastic pollution due to improper disposal and limited recycling options. This study investigated the biodegradation potential of native bacterial strains isolated from local landfill soil and wastewater sludge. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Ideonella sakaiensis, and Bacillus subtilis were identified as key strains with selective degradation capacities for polyethylene (PE), PET, and polypropylene (PP), respectively. When combined in a bacterial consortium, these strains showed significantly higher degradation rates compared to individual cultures. Experimental analysis included weight loss measurements, enzyme activity assays, scanning electron microscopy to confirm surface erosion, and CO₂ evolution tests under semi-natural soil microcosm conditions. The results demonstrate that native bacterial consortia can break down pharmaceutical plastics efficiently, producing measurable mineralization and structural damage. This finding suggests that local bacterial communities could be used as a viable biotechnological alternative to supplement traditional plastic waste management strategies, particularly for pharmaceutical packaging. Further research should focus on scaling up this approach through long-term field tests and pilot bioreactor applications to validate its effectiveness under real conditions.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Jorge Angel Velasco Espinal, Jorge Arizmendi García, Guillermo Camacho Alcantara, Guadalupe Angeles Chimal, Daniel Alberto Madrid Gonzalez, Katerin Alvarado Echeona (Autor/a)
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