DEGRADACIÓN DE POLIETILENO DE BAJA DENSIDAD POR Fusarium solani

Abstract

The objective of this work was to determine the degradation capacity of low density polyethylene by the fungus Fusarium solani, for 6 months under static conditions at 28°C, pH 6.5, determining the growth of the fungus by the production of extracellular protein (164, 193.4, and 262.8 mg/mL), and dry weight (328, 348, and 451 mg), and the biodegraded weight of the substrate (4.5%, 7.8%, and 9%). The production of extracellular laccase and esterase enzymes was also analyzed, obtaining laccase activities of 2.66, 2.75 and 2.86 U/mL, and esterase activities of 1.46, 1.89 and 2.0 U/mL, while no enzymatic activity was observed in the control without substrate. In addition, some characteristics of the extracellular enzymatic activities were analyzed, such as stability at 4oC and 28oC, optimal pH and temperature, and the effect of protein and substrate concentration.

Keywords

• fungus
• polyethylene
• biodegradation
• extracellular enzymes