MICROBIAL DEGRADATION OF NATURAL RUBBER AND VULCANIZED NATURAL RUBBER USING MICROBES ISOLATED FROM DIFFERENT WASTE DISPOSAL SITES OF CHITTAGONG

Abstract

Huge generation of very slowly degradable rubber waste is hazardous for human health and environment. The major chemical component of rubber is Cis-1, 4 Polyisoprene. During vulcanization polyisoprene chains are cross-linked with Sulphur at high heat. This study has been conducted to isolate microorganisms which can degrade Natural and vulcanized Natural Rubber from three different waste disposal areas of Chittagong: dumping sites near to Asian University for Women (AUW) campus, the landfill of Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) in Anandabazar and the ship breaking yard in Sitakunda. Two strains (Strain 1.1 and stain 2.1) among thirteen isolated pure strains showed slight degradation of natural rubber which were determined by hollow formation of clear zone in applied rubber. Morphological identification demonstrated 1.1 and 2.1 are gram positive cocci and gram negative rods respectively. Further study will be conducted for morphological and molecular identification.