Isolation and identification of poly Vinyl Alcohol (PVA) bacteria from Municipal Solid Waste Compost

Environmental pollutions caused by petroleum polymers and the limitation of petroleum resources have led to the development of bio based polymers and progress in reducing dependence on fossil fuels. In recent years poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) has received much attention in paper coatings, films, packaging materials and biomedical fields because of water-solubility, nontoxicity, excellent chemical resistance, proper barrier and biodegradability properties. In spite of its growing use, information on its destruction, especially the role of Bactria in this process is relatively low. The aim of this study is isolation and identification of PVA degrading bacterium from the municipal solid wastes composted. Compost samples were collected from solid municipal wastes in Karaj Compost plant during the process of compost production. Poly (vinyl alcohol) films were prepared by using liquid nitrogen, freeze drying and hot press techniques. The specimens were buried in municipal solid waste for 150 days. Then, the number of bacteria was counted on the culture medium. Isolation of the bacterium was done by culturing the bacteria on poly (vinyl alcohol) films. New poly (vinyl alcohol) degrading bacteria were isolated from municipal solid waste composted by using enrichments on poly (vinyl alcohol) films. Then isolated bacterium was identified by PCR with 16S rDNA method. In this study, the maximum number of bacteria was 280±0.1 at a medium with poly (vinyl alcohol) films, and the minimum number of bacteria was 110±0.3 at control medium. Following molecular identification and sequencing of 16S rDNA gene, the BLAST showed high similarity sequence of the sample with Pseudomonas geniculate. This paper is the first report on polyvinyl alcohol degradation by Pseudomonas geniculate.