Isolation and identification of microorganisms with potential degradation of wet wipes

Identifier:  TFG:2162

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TFG2162

Authors:  Lozano Quiles, Maria

Abstract:
Currently, wet wipes are a serious problem of contamination and sewer clogging that causes both environmental and economic problems. The bioremediation of polluting organic waste, such as wet wipes made with cellulose fibers, is a technique that allows the elimination of toxic substances or contaminants from a specific area using microorganisms. The ability of some bacteria and fungi to degrade cellulose from the environment has been demonstrated. However, microorganisms capable of degrading wet wipes are not known. In this work, microorganisms from compost with cellulase activity are isolated and identified by sequencing the 16S rRNA or 18S rRNA gene and then incubate them individually with wipes and evaluate the degradation capacity of each isolated strain. On the other hand, a collection of bacteria present in a sample of degraded wipe was obtained and the degradation capacity of wipes of each identified genre was evaluated by sequencing the gene coding for the 16S rRNA. Finally, 16S rRNA sequencing has revealed a moderate capacity for tissue degradation in strains isolated from the genera Streptomyces, Pseudomonas and Sphingobacterium. As well as a high percentage of bacteria of the genus Rhizobium in a sample of degraded wipe.