PJB-2025-101
MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF BACTERIA FROM THE GUT OF TENEBRIO MOLITER CAPABLE OF POLYPROPYLENE DEGRADATION
sidra kaml
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Polypropylene (PP) is one of the most common and widely used plastics worldwide, contributing markedly to environmental pollution due to its persistence and resistance to degradation.This study examined the capacity of Tenebrio molitor larvae to degrade polypropylene and assessed the contribution of their gut microbiota to this process. The larvae of T. molitor were fed with polypropylene masks, and their ability to degrade the plastic was evaluated through molecular, macroscopic, microscopic analyses, and FTIR. Our results show that there is considerable degradation of polypropylene by T. molitor larvae. The notable findings demonstrated as polypropylene masks given to the mealworms showed a high weight loss of 34.6% ± 5.2% after 30 days. Color change at macroscopic level was observable. The polypropylene masks changed from white opaque to yellow translucent, which is an indication of degradation. SEM micrographs clearly depicted visible breakdown of the polypropylene polymer chain in which cracks were visible and fragmentation took place. The FTIR spectra showed decreased intensities of the peaks corresponding to C-H stretching vibrations, at around 2950-2850 cm-1 and C-C stretching vibrations, at around 1450-1350 cm-1, thereby meaning a break in the chain of the polypropylene polymer. Furthermore, new peaks were observed in the range of 1650-1550 cm-1, which correspond to the C=O stretching vibrations, indicating the potential formation of new functional groups throughout the degradation process. The analysis of gut microbiota, specifically through 16S rRNA gene sequencing, identified the Escherichia coli and Shigella families as the predominant bacterial communities engaged in plastic degradation, exhibiting relative abundances of 43.2% ± 6.1% and 27.5% ± 4.2%, respectively. This study provides evidence that T. molitor larvae, in symbiosis with their gut microbiota, can efficiently degrade polypropylene. This novel approach offers a promising solution for managing plastic waste, providing a potential alternative to traditional methods
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