Implication of Arthrobacter and Enterobacter species for polycarbonate degradation

Non-degradable and persistent compounds like plastic, polyethylene, polycarbonate, and polyester pose a threat to the environment. Bacteria may be considered as potent utilizers of these compounds owing to their ability to produce various enzymes needed for breakdown of such compounds. In view of the above, bacterial cultures were isolated from polyethylene contaminated waste disposal sites and were screened for their ability to produce esterase needed for degradation of polycarbonates. The potential isolates were identified using 16S rDNA sequencing as Arthrobacter and Enterobacter sp. These two strains were subsequently used for in vitro biodegradation studies at ambient temperatures. A shift in λmax from 243 to 276 nm after 10 days suggested the utilization of polycarbonate by the bacterial strains which resulted in transformation of polycarbonate to a polar by-product as substantiated by Fourier transform infra red (FTIR) spectra.