# Pseudomonas aeruginosa SG01: A Novel Polyethylene-Degrading Bacterium in Petrochemical Wastewater

## TL;DR

This study identifies a new bacterium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa SG01, that can break down polyethylene, a common plastic pollutant, and change its surface properties.

## Contribution

The discovery of Pseudomonas aeruginosa SG01 as a novel polyethylene-degrading bacterium in petrochemical wastewater.

## Key findings

- SG01 showed the highest growth rate when using polyethylene as its sole carbon source.
- Treated PE films had reduced mass and increased hydrophilicity, as shown by contact angle and FTIR analysis.
- SEM images revealed surface erosion and cracks on PE films after bacterial treatment.

## Abstract

Microbial degradation technology presents a sustainable approach to address the environmental persistence of polyethylene (PE). In this study, a consortium of PE-degrading strains was isolated from sludge in the production wastewater of a PE-manufacturing plant. Among these strains, Pseudomonas aeruginosa SG01 demonstrated the highest cellular growth rate in culture medium, indicating its capacity to efficiently degrade PE and utilize it as the sole carbon source. Following treatment with SG01, the PE films exhibited a significant reduction in mass along with a clear decrease in surface contact angle, suggesting an improvement in hydrophilicity. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis detected the formation of new absorption bands on the treated PE films, corresponding to hydroxyl, carboxyl, and amide functional groups. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations further revealed the presence of erosion pits and network-like cracks on the film surface. This study confirms that Pseudomonas aeruginosa SG01 can effectively degrade PE and modify its surface properties, offering a novel microbial resource for the bioremediation of PE contamination.