ASSESSMENT OF THE BIODESTRUCTION OF SOME POLYMERIC COMPOSITE MATERIALS USED IN HOUSEHOLD

Abstract

In this research, we investigated the impact of micromycetes on polyethylene bags used for household waste disposal and packaging, plastic bottles, as well as bags designed for everyday use and food storage. As a result of mycological studies of soil samples 17 species of microscopic fungi belonging to 7 genera were isolated and identified: Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Mucor, Penicillium, Rhizopus. It should be noted that the major part of species (13) belongs to the Ascomycota. Mucoromycota division is represented by 4 species. The taxonomic analysis of the mycobiota of the studied soil samples revealed that the most common genera in the samples were Penicillium and Aspergillus. This research provided the biodestruction potential of the studied polymer materials and has been observed that the duration of biodegradation can be influenced by changes in environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity and certain growth factors. Not all species of fungi growing on polymer materials are true destructors capable of using the material itself or its components as an energy source. The degradation of materials is not only attributed to a single specific species but rather to a complex interplay of various species of micromycetes.