The Effect of Exposure to Lentinula edodes and Flammulina velutipes on the Biodegradation of Crystallized Polylactic Acid
School Name
Spring Valley High School
Grade Level
11th Grade
Presentation Topic
Environmental Science
Presentation Type
Non-Mentored
Abstract
Crystallized polylactic acid (CPLA) is a prevalent bioplastic which, despite being biodegradable, is extremely resistant to decomposition in natural environments. Thus, CPLA waste contamination is rapidly becoming a prevalent issue. Lentinula edodes and Flammulina velutipes are two widespread white-rot fungi whose capabilities for bioplastic degradation have not been examined. This study aimed to determine a natural approach for reducing plastic waste by evaluating the ability of L. edodes and F. velutipes to degrade CPLA bioplastic. It was hypothesized that CPLA samples would decrease in mass when individually treated with L. edodes and F. velutipes due to their similarities to previously-examined fungi such as C. versicolor and P. chrysosporium (Arikan & Bilgen, 2019; Roldán-Carrillo et al., 2003). To assess this hypothesis, 180 discs 6 mm in diameter were cut from Simple Truth™ CPLA knives and submerged in potato dextrose broth (PDB), L. edodes liquid culture, and F. velutipes liquid culture for 23 days. The initial and final masses were used to calculate the percent change in mass. An ANOVA test showed that the p-value of 0.3234 was greater than the alpha value of 0.05. Hence, the results were not significant and the hypothesis was not supported. Therefore, bioplastic waste accumulation, particularly CPLA waste, remains a prevalent issue as the material is predominantly unaltered by fungal biodegradation within 23 days.
Recommended Citation
Taine, Iraine, "The Effect of Exposure to Lentinula edodes and Flammulina velutipes on the Biodegradation of Crystallized Polylactic Acid" (2023). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 88.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2023/all/88
Location
BS 349
Start Date
3-25-2023 11:15 AM
Presentation Format
Oral and Written
Group Project
No
The Effect of Exposure to Lentinula edodes and Flammulina velutipes on the Biodegradation of Crystallized Polylactic Acid
BS 349
Crystallized polylactic acid (CPLA) is a prevalent bioplastic which, despite being biodegradable, is extremely resistant to decomposition in natural environments. Thus, CPLA waste contamination is rapidly becoming a prevalent issue. Lentinula edodes and Flammulina velutipes are two widespread white-rot fungi whose capabilities for bioplastic degradation have not been examined. This study aimed to determine a natural approach for reducing plastic waste by evaluating the ability of L. edodes and F. velutipes to degrade CPLA bioplastic. It was hypothesized that CPLA samples would decrease in mass when individually treated with L. edodes and F. velutipes due to their similarities to previously-examined fungi such as C. versicolor and P. chrysosporium (Arikan & Bilgen, 2019; Roldán-Carrillo et al., 2003). To assess this hypothesis, 180 discs 6 mm in diameter were cut from Simple Truth™ CPLA knives and submerged in potato dextrose broth (PDB), L. edodes liquid culture, and F. velutipes liquid culture for 23 days. The initial and final masses were used to calculate the percent change in mass. An ANOVA test showed that the p-value of 0.3234 was greater than the alpha value of 0.05. Hence, the results were not significant and the hypothesis was not supported. Therefore, bioplastic waste accumulation, particularly CPLA waste, remains a prevalent issue as the material is predominantly unaltered by fungal biodegradation within 23 days.
