Isolation and Identification of Low-Density Polyethylene Plastic-Degrading Fungus from Payatas Dumpsite, Quezon City / Alyssa B. Alejo ; Camile Faye P. Baloloy ; Ma. Iris C. Del Rosario ; Ciara Jessa S. Lagmay ; Ma. Andrea V. Macariola ; Marielle May M. Magno ; Abegaile E. Nolasco ; Sarah D. Salinas ; Micah M. Sermonia ; Gene Abraham R. Simon and Julia Lorraine T. Tan.

Includes appendices and bibliographical references.

Abstract: Plastics plays a huge role in our daily lives and are also seen everywhere. They are strong, water resistant, durable and cheap to produce that is why they are used even in grocery stores, in toys, wall of our homes and used in technologies like cellphones. Abusive usage of plastics can also be harmful to animals wherein that can ingest these things causing a significant mortality rate among marine mammals, turtles, and even birds. It can also be harmful to human's like inhaling the toxins produced by these. Moreover, plastics could also be harmful to the environment that causes chemical pollution. This study aimed to isolate and identify a fungus from Payatas Dumpsite that has the ability to degrade Low Density Polyethelene (LDPE), a type of plastic that is abundant in environment. This study is conducted to possibly offer a solution to decrease the accumulated plastics by using abundantly available. The degrading capability of the isolated fungus Aspergillus niger was determined by measuring the total weight loss percentage of the strips after the exposure. Scanning electron microscopy was used to further examine the plastic strips and to observe the changes that happen such as crack and holes that will prove the degradation capability of the isolated fungus. It is found that Aspergillus niger which is isolated from the soil in Payatas Dumpsite can degrade LDPE strip after exposure for 20 days.

Thesis - School of Medical Technology