Published Paper Details:

Biodegradation of biomedical waste (LDPE) samples using microbial consortium of microorganisms was monitored as a function of number of days and the results were presented in Percentage weight loss due to degradation was determined by subtracting the weight of the sample taken out on a particular day i.e., 40 days of exposure from the initial weight ie., the weight of the sample at the start of degradation study each time. It was observed from the results that percentage weight loss by Bacillus cereus, Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis revealed 34.61, 26.92 and 15.38 %. Similarly, when the polymer LDPE was pretreated with UV exposure it was 46.15% for Bacillus cereus UV treated sample followed by Bacillus licheniformis exhibited 38.46% and Bacillus subtilis revealed 26.92 %. In the present study, bacteria cultured on nutrient broth medium until the mid - exponential phase was transferred to the test tube with constant volume of 1.2 ml to which increasing volumes of hexadecane were added. Bacillus cereus incubated in a liquid medium containing polyethylene as sole carbon source colonized the polyethylene and formed a sparse biofilm. BATH assay demonstrated that hydrophobicity of Bacillus cereus exhibited 89% and it was very high in compared to Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis.