Development of efficient polyethylene degrading marine consortia. biofilm metagenome

This study investigated the potential of bacterial-mediated polyethylene degradation in two phases of a microcosm experiment. During the first phase, indigenous marine community alone and inoculated with known PE degraders was incubated with naturally weathered PE films for 6 months. At the end of the first phase the developed biofilm was harvested and re-inoculated with PE films. Bacteria from both treatments were able to establish an active population on the PE surfaces as the biofilm community developed in a time dependent way.