Biodegradation of Low-Density Polyethylene by Native Aspergillus Strains Isolated from Plastic-Contaminated Soil

Walter Rojas-Villacorta (), Magaly De La Cruz-Noriega, Nélida Milly Otiniano, Nicole Terrones-Rodríguez and Claudio Quiñones-Cerna
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Walter Rojas-Villacorta: Grupo de Biotecnología Microbiana y Vegetal, Universidad César Vallejo, Trujillo 13001, Peru
Magaly De La Cruz-Noriega: Institutos y Centros de Investigación de la Universidad Cesar Vallejo, Universidad Cesar Vallejo, Trujillo 13001, Peru
Nélida Milly Otiniano: Institutos y Centros de Investigación de la Universidad Cesar Vallejo, Universidad Cesar Vallejo, Trujillo 13001, Peru
Nicole Terrones-Rodríguez: Institutos y Centros de Investigación de la Universidad Cesar Vallejo, Universidad Cesar Vallejo, Trujillo 13001, Peru
Claudio Quiñones-Cerna: Laboratorio de Biotecnología e Ingenieria Genética, Universidad Nacional de Trujillo, Trujillo 13001, Peru

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 20, 1-19

Abstract: Plastic pollution is a pressing global environmental challenge, and low-density-polyethylene (LDPE) is among the most persistent synthetic polymers. This study investigates the in vitro biodegradation of LDPE by native Aspergillus strains isolated from plastic-contaminated soils in Trujillo, Peru. Molecular techniques were used to identify the Aspergillus species. The LDPE strips were incubated for 50 days, and biodegradation was evaluated by weight loss (%), pH variation, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Likewise, the reduction rate and half-life of the polymer (t 1/2 ) were calculated. Three strains of Aspergillus — A. niger H1C, A. ochraceopetaliformis H3C, and A. tamarii H6C—were isolated and evaluated for their ability to LDPE under in vitro conditions. A. niger H1C exhibited the most weight reduction (4.25 ± 1.67%) and a polymer half-life of 897.89 days, while A. tamarii H6C demonstrated a comparable loss (3.79 ± 1.52%) with a half-life of 901.6 days. A. ochraceopetaliformis H3C exhibited a moderate degradation (1.98 ± 0.37%), with the longest half-life recorded at 1757.33 days. The process was supported by pH variations. Furthermore, FTIR and SEM analyses revealed structural modifications in LDPE including formation of hydroxyl, carbonyl, and ether groups, suggesting oxidative and enzymatic activity-possibly mediated by lipases induced under lipid-rich conditions. This is the first report of A. ochraceopetaliformis and A. tamarii , highlighting their potential in sustainable plastic bioremediation strategies aligned with SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Keywords: Aspergillus; polyethylene; low-density polyethylene; biodegradation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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