https://repository.auw.edu.bd/handle/123456789/830 Fri, 15 May 2026 09:23:01 GMT 2026-05-15T09:23:01Z https://repository.auw.edu.bd/handle/123456789/1040 BIODEGRADATION OF POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE (PET OR PETE) AND HIGH DENSITY POLYETHYLENE (HDPE) USING MICROBES ISOLATED FROM WASTE DUMPING SITES IN CHITTAGONG, BANGLADESH Mollah, A.K.M MONIRUZZAMAN - Synthetic polymers like polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) are hazardous pollutants for the environment. The aim of this study is to investigate the ability of microbes in soil and water samples from three different waste dumping sites in Chittagong to degrade PET and HDPE pellets. The sites are: sewage drain next to the Asian University for Women (AUW) campus, the landfill of Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) in Anandabazar, and the ship breaking yard in Sitakunda. Nineteen selected microbes from these samples were cultured on nutrient agar at 37oC and their ability to biodegrade PET and HDPE were tested by placing the weighed pellets on the cultured agar plates. These plates were observed periodically for about a month and final weights of the pellets were recorded. Similarly, the experiment was also carried out in nutrient broth with sixteen microbes. Results from the agar method showed mean percent weight loss of 8.32±0.52 in PET pellets by L3AW1 sample and 7.10±2.83 in HDPE pellets by L3AW3 sample. In the broth method, percent weight loss was observed 11.77 in PET by L3AW3 and 5.26 in HDPE by S4SB1 sample. Identification of microbial strains based on morphology and biochemical tests were conducted using Bergey’s Manual of Bacteriology. Further studies will be conducted for accurate identification of the microbial strains, enzymes involved in degradation and assessment on feasibility of commercialization of desired enzymes. Mon, 01 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT https://repository.auw.edu.bd/handle/123456789/1040 2018-01-01T00:00:00Z https://repository.auw.edu.bd/handle/123456789/1039 Influence of Lherzolite on the Growth of Chinese Spinach and Soil Respiration in Cadmium Contaminated Soil Mollah, A. K. M. Moniruzzaman A glasshouse pot experiment was conducted to investigate cadmium (Cd) to- lerance on the growth of Chinese spinach (Spinacia Oleracea L.) grown in sandy loam soil and microbial respiration after application of lherzolite (0%, 2.5% and 5%) with added Cd (0, 2.5 and 5 mg∙kg−1 ). Soil pH tended to in- crease with increasing application rate of lherzolite about 1.5 units after plant harvest. Plant growth and microbial respiration in one hand decreased with the rates of Cd application in soil but on the other hand lherzolite application in soil reduced Cd toxicity and enhanced plant growth and microbial respira- tion. Microbial respiration of soil showed significant positive relationship with shoot and root dry weight of spinach but negative relationship of Cd concen- tration in plant tissue. This result indicated that application of lherzolite de- toxified Cd toxicity in plant resulted in an increase plant growth and microbi- al respiration in Cd contaminated soil. Mon, 01 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT https://repository.auw.edu.bd/handle/123456789/1039 2018-01-01T00:00:00Z