The biodegradation of low density polyethylene (LDPE) was studied by employing a microbial strain isolated from the dumping site soil. The bacterium strain was identified as Bacillus tropicus (Gen Bank Accession no: MK318648) by 16S rRNA sequencing. The growth of the strain was observed on virgin LDPE during the biodegradation process. The change in properties of LDPE films before and after bacterial strain incubation was observed by FTIR, SEM, AFM, contact angle, mechanical and optical testing. Loss in mechanical properties and changes in optical properties of the polymer matrix was observed. Weight reduction by 10.15% and fall in the value of tensile strength, elongation at break, tear strength, Young’s Modulus, hardness and stiffness to 8.59 MPa, 10.85 mm, 69.18 N, 272.36, 37.6 Shor D and 10,672.21 N/m respectively were observed after 40 days of incubation. The transparency and haze percentage were also changed to 93.7% and 18.6% respectively after the study period. The pH of the media was measured during incubation to evaluate the change due to formation of different extracellular and intracellular enzymes excreted by the strain. Hence, Bacillus tropicus could be an efficient microorganism to degrade 10-micron thickness LDPE films, thereby preventing its harmful impacts in the environment.

通过使用从倾倒场土壤分离的微生物菌株研究了低密度聚乙烯（LDPE）的生物降解。该细菌菌株被鉴定为热带芽孢杆菌（Gen Bank登录号：MK318648）通过16S rRNA测序。在生物降解过程中，原始LDPE上观察到了菌株的生长。通过FTIR，SEM，AFM，接触角，机械和光学测试观察了细菌菌株孵育前后LDPE膜的性能变化。观察到聚合物基质的机械性能损失和光学性能变化。重量减少了10.15％，拉伸强度，断裂伸长率，撕裂强度，杨氏模量，硬度和刚度值分别下降至8.59 MPa，10.85 mm，69.18 N，272.36、37.6 Shor D和10672.21 N / m孵育40天后。在研究期之后，透明度和雾度百分比也分别变为93.7％和18.6％。在温育过程中测量培养基的pH，以评估由于菌株分泌的不同细胞外和细胞内酶形成而引起的变化。因此，热带芽孢杆菌可能是降解10微米厚LDPE膜的有效微生物，从而防止了其对环境的有害影响。