CHARACTERIZATION OF Bacillus sp. ITP 10.2.1 AS DEGRADING-BACTERIA OF POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE (PET) SYNTHETIC PLASTIC

Abstract

The negative effects of the use of synthetic plastics lately have been very worrying, such as serious environmental damage because plastics are difficult to decompose over a long period of time. Therefore, one effort that can be done is to find the bacteria from nature that are able to degrade the synthetic plastic. In this paper we report macroscopic, microscopic and biochemical characterization of the bacterium Bacillus sp. ITP.10.2.1 as a new bacterial from soil isolate which capable of degrading the synthetic polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastics. In this paper, 1 (one) bacterial strain has the potential to degrading polyethylene terephthalate plastic films up to 4.77 b/b for 4 weeks, namely ITP 10.2.1 isolates. Macroscopic characterization of bacteria ITP 10.2.1; white coloration of the colonies, round shape, flat edges, smooth surfaces and raised elevations. Microscopic characterization, these bacteria has bacil form and belong to the Gram Negative group. Biochemically the bacteria ITP 10.2.1 is aerobic, the TSIA test: red/yellow, does not produce H2S gas, catalase test: positive, oxidase test: negative, motility test: positive, indole test: negative, urea test: citric positive: positive, lactose: negative, glucose: positive, sucrose: positive, mannitol: positive, methyl-red: negative, fermentation oxidation: negative, Voges-Proskauer: negative, xylose: positive, arabinose: negative, nitrate: positive, gelatin: positive. The characterization results showed that the bacterial isolate ITP 10.2.1 was included in the Bacillus sp. group.