Evaluation of PET Degradation Using Artificial Microbial Consortia

• DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.778828
• Publication Date: 2021-12-23T10:26:27Z
• Authors: Xinhua Qi; Yuan Ma; Hanchen Chang; Bingzhi Li; Mingzhu Ding; Yingjin Yuan
• Keywords: Pseudomonas putida; Microbial consortium; Degradation

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) biodegradation is regarded as an environmentally friendly degradation method. In this study, artificial microbial consortium composed of Rhodococcus jostii , Pseudomonas putida and two metabolically engineered Bacillus subtilis was constructed to degrade PET. First, a two-species with B. that could secrete PET hydrolase (PETase) monohydroxyethyl (MHETase), respectively; it 13.6% (weight loss) the film within 7 days. A three-species further obtained by adding R. reduce inhibition caused terephthalic acid (TPA), breakdown product The weight reduced 31.2% 3 days, achieving about 17.6% improvement compared consortium. Finally, P. introduced ethylene glycol (EG), another PET, obtaining four-species With consortium, loss reached 23.2% under ambient temperature. This study evaluated consortia in degradation, which demonstrated great potential utilization complex substrates, providing new insights for polymers.