Sains Malaysiana 54(7)(2025): 1739-1750

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2025-5407-08

 

Biodegradation of Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) using Yeast Isolates from Plastic Waste Biofilms

(Biodegradasi Polietilena Ketumpatan Rendah (LDPE) menggunakan Pengasingan Yis daripada Biofilem Sisa Plastik)

 

NUR HIDAYATUL ALAMI^1,2, ELLA PUTRY WULAN DARY², NENGAH DWIANITA KUSWYTASARI², ENNY ZULAIKA² & MAYA SHOVITRI², FENRYCO PRATAMA³, ISTY ADHITYA PURWASENA³ & PINGKAN ADITIAWATI^3,*

 

¹Doctoral Program of Biology, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Jl. Ganesha No. 10, Bandung 40132, Indonesia

²Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Data Analytics, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Jl. Raya ITS, Keputih, Sukolilo, Surabaya 60111, Indonesia

³Microbial Biotechnology Research Group, School of Life Sciences and Technology,

Institut Teknologi Bandung, Jl. Ganesha No.10, Bandung 40132, Indonesia

 

Diserahkan: 17 September 2024/Diterima: 5 Mei 2025

 

Abstract

Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is an abundant and widely commercialized petroleum-based synthetic thermoplastic. It has a high molecular weight and a very hydrophobic surface. The strong C–C bond also makes LDPE resistant to biological attacks. Biodegradation presents a promising eco-friendly solution for tackling plastic waste. This study aimed to investigate the potential of yeast from plastic waste to degrade LDPE. Yeast was isolated from various plastic-polluted areas in Surabaya and Banyuwangi, Indonesia. The screening test was performed on mineral salt medium agar (MSMA) supplemented with polyethylene powder. The biodegradation test was conducted for 4 weeks in Mineral Salt Medium Broth (MSMB) with LDPE film. The ability of the isolates to degrade LDPE was evaluated by measuring the reduction in dry weight of plastic (% degradation), yeast growth via Optical Density (OD600 nm), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. Screening on MSMA showed that 13 isolates could degrade polyethylene, as indicated by the formation of clear zones. The five best isolates were used for further biodegradation tests. The yeast isolate M.3.0.1 exhibited the highest degradation percentage of 1.1474±0.0888%. It demonstrated increased growth in the test medium, as indicated by an increase in optical density. In addition, SEM analysis showed a change in the morphology of the LDPE surface, and FTIR analysis showed a change in the transmittance value for the test plastic.

Keywords: Biodegradation; low-density polyethylene; plastic; waste; yeast

 

Abstrak

Polietilena berketumpatan rendah (LDPE) ialah termoplastik sintetik berasaskan petroleum yang banyak dan dikomersialkan secara meluas. Ia mempunyai berat molekul yang tinggi dan permukaan yang sangat hidrofobik. Ikatan C–C yang kuat juga menjadikan LDPE rintang terhadap serangan biologi. Biodegradasi memberikan penyelesaian mesra alam yang berpotensi untuk menangani sisa plastik. Penyelidikan ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji potensi yis daripada sisa plastik untuk merendahkan LDPE. Yis diasingkan dari pelbagai kawasan tercemar plastik di Surabaya dan Banyuwangi, Indonesia. Ujian saringan dilakukan pada agar medium garam mineral (MSMA) yang ditambah dengan serbuk polietilena. Ujian biodegradasi telah dijalankan selama 4 minggu dalam Mineral Salt Medium Broth (MSMB) dengan filem LDPE. Keupayaan pencilan untuk merendahkan LDPE dinilai dengan mengukur pengurangan berat kering plastik (% degradasi), pertumbuhan yis melalui Ketumpatan Optik (OD600 nm), Mikroskopi Elektron Pengimbasan (SEM) dan analisis Spektroskopi transformasi Fourier infra merah (FTIR). Saringan pada MSMA menunjukkan bahawa 13 pencilan boleh merendahkan polietilena, seperti yang ditunjukkan oleh pembentukan zon jernih. Lima pencilan terbaik telah digunakan untuk ujian biodegradasi selanjutnya. Pengasingan yis M.3.0.1 menunjukkan peratusan degradasi tertinggi iaitu 1.1474±0.0888%. Ia menunjukkan peningkatan pertumbuhan dalam medium ujian, seperti yang ditunjukkan oleh peningkatan ketumpatan optik. Di samping itu, analisis SEM mendedahkan perubahan dalam morfologi permukaan LDPE dan analisis FTIR menunjukkan perubahan dalam nilai penghantaran untuk plastik ujian.

Kata kunci: Biodegradasi; plastik; polietilena berketumpatan rendah; sisa; yis

 

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*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat; email: pingkan@itb.ac.id