Biodegradation of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) by Sreptomyces Strains Isolated from Arauca and Guaviare Riverbanks, Colombia

Abstract

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is one of the most important polymers worldwide, it is widely used for many industrial applications such as construction, food packaging, etc., due to its chemical/physical and environmental resistance. These characteristics had led to an increasing consumption and, consequently, an increasing waste accumulation problem. Traditionally, incineration and burial degradation have been used to manage plastics waste, such as PVC, increasing environmental pollution and human health risks due to the material properties and additives. This makes particularly important to find a degradation method with lower negative impacts at environmental and human health level. Biodegradation and biotransformation, using a great variety of microorganisms, have been considered as alternatives and complementary methods for waste management and control due to their significant reduction on the negative effects on the environment. For biodegradation processes, microorganisms with a wide secondary metabolism, capable of enzyme production and with environmental adaptability are preferred. Microorganisms such as fungi and Actinobacteria are usually used as xenobiotic control agents, due to the production of a diverse range of enzymes.