Biodegradation of unvulcanized natural rubber by microorganisms isolated from soil and rubber surface: A preliminary study

The Natural rubber (NR) biodegradation by three microorganisms has been evaluated: a yeast (Rhodotorula mucilaginosa) and a bacterium (Pseudomonas sp.), isolated in a liquid culture from soil, and a filamentous fungus (Alternaria alternata), isolated on a solid culture from an NR surface, were tested. The biodegradation was conducted for four months in liquid culture, at 30C, in agitated and stationary conditions, using a Mineral Salt Medium with NR as the only carbon source. The growth behaviour of the yeast and the bacterium was evaluated by means of optical density measurements (OD650). At the end of the incubation, the dry weight biomass of the microorganisms was measured. R. mucilaginosa showed a higher biomass production in the agitated culture, while a more efficient production was observed in static conditions for the Pseudomonas and A. alternata strains. The highest enzymatic activity of Lignin peroxidase (LiP) and Manganese-dependent peroxidase (MnP) was obtained in static conditions for A. alternata. The laccase production was probed by guaiacol oxidative polymerization on agar plates. The microorganism biodegradation capability was assessed through a combination of SEM analysis, FTIR-ATR spectroscopy, and Size Exclusion Chromatography techniques. An extended mycelium-substrate interphase and a decrease in the NR molecular weight were observed.