Isolation and Identification of Polypropylene Degrading Bacteria from a Mangrove Forest in Port Area, Manila, Philippines

Abstract

Synthetic plastics such as polypropylene (PP) continue to contribute to the growing problem of the accumulation of non-biodegradable materials. Microbial plastic degradation serves as a promising, sustainable, and eco-friendly strategy for the disposal and management of such materials. This study aimed to identify polypropylene degrading bacteria from Kabalikat Mangrove Forest in Port Area, Manila, Philippines. Soil samples were collected and subjected to further sample preparation. Isolated colonies were obtained from minimal Bushnell Haas (BH) media supplemented with polypropylene. Selected cultures were identified by standard bacterial 16S rRNA sequencing, and the ability of the isolates to degrade PP was further validated. Results of the study showed that potential polypropylene-degrading bacteria are present in Kabalikat Mangrove Forest, as they were able to grow in minimal BH media supplemented with polypropylene as the sole carbon source. Candidate isolates that showed growth around the polypropylene material were identified as Bacillus paralicheniformis, Pseudomonas stutzeri, and Paenibacillus sp. Polypropylene-degrading ability has previously been reported in P. stutzeri, but not in B. paralicheniformis and Paenibacillus sp. It is recommended that improvements in the method be conducted that would allow detection using zones of clearing and quantitative assessment of the polypropylene-biodegradation potential of the isolates.