Comparative biodegradation studies of cow dung modified epoxy with epoxy using an indigenously developed bacterial consortium

Thermoplastic-based polymers and their blends are recalcitrant in nature. Based on their extensive use, huge amount of polymeric waste is being produced annually, which impart serious threat on the natural ecosystem. Considering this scenario, it is needed to take some immediate actions to keep the ecosystem dynamic and secure. Therefore, this study was carried out in order to evaluate an indigenously developed bacterial consortium for the biodegradation of epoxy and a blend of epoxy with cow dung that is cow dung modified epoxy (CME). These polymers were preliminary screened against the used bacteria individually for determination of optimum concentration to utilize them as carbon source. For this purpose, the comparative in vitro biodegradation studies were carried out using the bacterial consortium. Relatively, better biodegradation potential of developed consortium was observed for epoxy in comparison to CME, as higher biomass and more sustained growth of consortium was obtained in the presence of epoxy. Further, the progressive in situ degradation of epoxy and CME films was also conducted in the presence and absence of consortium for three and six months under natural conditions. For this purpose, bioformulation of bacteria was used to inoculate the soil. The treated samples were analyzed for their comparative spectral, thermal and morphological changes. Thus, the present study reveals that the used bacterial strains have the potential to act upon epoxy and CME polymers and capable to impart changes in the surface morphology during incubation in soil. Key words: Epoxy, cow dung modified epoxy, biodegradation, bacterial consortium, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis (TG–DTG–DTA).