BIODEGRADABLE PLASTIC PRODUCING BACTERIA FROM TANNERY EFFLUENT

Abstract

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are the environment friendly, efficient, renewable and biodegradable plastics. They provide a good source to overcome the growing concerns of pollution especially regarding plastics. For the isolation and characterization of PHA producing microbes, sampling was done from tanneries industry, Kasur. Ten strains were isolated from the samples on nutrient agar, all these strains were purified and the Gram staining was done followed by the biochemical analysis. Catalase, oxidase and lipase tests were performed. Seven out of ten strains were gram negative and three strains were gram positive. Similarly, two strains were catalase negative and the rest of them were catalase positive. Moreover, strains were also streaked on MacConkey agar. Strains were then grown on PDA media with the supplementation of Nile blue. This media was used to observe the fluorescence of PHA producers in the UV illuminator. Sudan black staining was done to observe the granules inside the strains showing fluorescence. Two strains were selected and further proceeded. These strains were gram negative rod.