Marine bacteria-based polyvinyl chloride (PVC) degradation by-products: Toxicity analysis on Vigna radiata and edible seaweed Ulva lactuca

Biodegradation of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) by marine bacteria is a sustainable approach that leads to the production of different by-products but their toxicity needs to be evaluated. In the present study, polyvinyl chloride degradation products (PVCDP) produced by three marine bacterial isolates (T-1.3, BP-4.3 and S-237) in the culture supernatant were evaluated for toxicity on the germination of Vigna radiata and growth of Ulva lactuca. A total of 24 compounds comprising of benzene, fatty acid, ether, ester and plastic stabilizer (tris (2, 4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphate) were identified by GC-MS using diethyl ether solvent extraction from the supernatant. The per cent germination rate of the seed treated with PVCDP showed no significant effect but germination index and elongation inhibition rate were influenced significantly by PVCDP treatments. In seaweed (U. lactuca), PVCDP showed improvement in the daily growth rate. After ten days of treatment with PVCDP, pigment contents were improved in seaweed and PVCDP (2%) of isolate T-1.3 recorded the highest chlorophyll-a and chlorophyll-b.

Automated summary

This study evaluated the toxicity of polyvinyl chloride degradation products (PVCDP) produced by marine bacteria on the germination of Vigna radiata and growth of Ulva lactuca. Results showed that PVCDP significantly impacted the germination index and growth rate of Vigna radiata, while it improved the daily growth rate and pigment contents of Ulva lactuca.