Isolation and screening of microplastics from Nodularia spumigena and Phaeodactylum tricornutum and determining the efficacy of biodegradation of microplastics obtained using the synergistic consortium

Abstract

Microplastics are a form of plastics which are less than 5mm in size. They are the major threat for the environment and mankind, as they critically influence the food chain. The best way to extinct them from the environment is to degrade them in eco-friendly manner where biodegradation is the optimal therapy. Phytoplanktons play a vital role in phytoremediation. They are capable of in taking certain water pollutants such as micro plastics. Nodularia spumigena and Phaeodactylum tricornutum were screened and the microplastics were extracted using optimized enzymatic or alklanized digestion process and then dried. The micro plastics obtained were weighed and the concentration of microplastic present per gram of the sample was calculated. UV- VIS spectroscopy and FTIR instrumental analysis were used to analyse the digestion process. In order to formulate a synergistic consortium to degrade the thus obtained microplastic, plastic undergoing the natural degradation process from the dump yard was collected and crowded plate technique was performed and the strains involved in the degradation were thus isolated and identified and sequenced. Synergistic consortium was formulated and then incubated with the microplastics screened. The incubation period was of about 60 days. UV- Spectroscopic analysis was done on 0th day, 30th day and 60th day. The graph evidently illustrates the difference as the incubation time progresses. The peak depicts the microplastic degradation based on the turbidity. As the microplastic gets degraded, the growth of the organism in the consortium also gets limited because the microplastics are the only source of carbon.