Biodegradation of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic by actinomycetes isolated from Balikpapan coastal sediment, Indonesia

Polyethylene plastics are a persistent pollutant due to their distribution, availability, and serious impacts on coastal ecosystems. This study evaluated the degradation mechanism during the 60-day incubation period of LDPE film using the best actinomycetes action isolated from Balikpapan coastal sediment, Indonesia. Their colonies have unique morphological characteristics and potentially utilize LDPE plastic as carbon sources. The weight loss was recorded in isolates NACTB22–4; NACTB22–8; NACTB22–9; and consortium were 0,3522 ± 0,0440 %; 0,2565 ± 0,1019 %; 0,3486 ± 0,1552 %; and 0,5075 ± 0,0304 %, respectively. Actinomycetes colonization was evident in morphology surface changes of LDPE film analyzed using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and transmittance values changes in their functional group using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR).