Comparing Various Species of Cyanobacteria in Bioremediation of Polystyrene
School Name
Spring Valley High School
Grade Level
11th Grade
Presentation Topic
Microbiology
Presentation Type
Non-Mentored
Abstract
Polystyrene and other microplastics are very harmful to the environment. Because of this, bioremediation tactics are extremely important to solving this issue. The purpose of this study was to compare Spirulina major and Synechocystis nigrescens in their ability to remediate pieces of polystyrene and conclude which is most likely to be the most effective at bioremediation for polystyrene under a short amount of time. It was hypothesized that if all experimental groups containing cyanobacteria were exposed to polystyrene, they would cause an equal decrease in the mass of the polystyrene. To set up the experiment, the polystyrene pieces were weighed with a scale and the mass was recorded before placed in the containers. To complete this experiment, test tubes were prepared for each cyanobacteria species (Spirulina major and Synechocystis nigrescens), and additional test tubes were set up with no cyanobacteria species, but replicated the other environments that the other test tubes had (the seawater medium being present). These test tubes were then exposed to polystyrene for 15 days to see if the mass of the polystyrene would be affected. Using a one-way ANOVA, it was found that the cyanobacteria successfully bioremediated the polystyrene by decreasing the mass. A post hoc Tukey test then indicated that there was a significant difference between the control group and both experimental groups. With this said, there was not a significant difference between both species of cyanobacteria.
Recommended Citation
Bullington, Rowan, "Comparing Various Species of Cyanobacteria in Bioremediation of Polystyrene" (2024). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 507.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2024/all/507
Location
RITA 387
Start Date
3-23-2024 9:30 AM
Presentation Format
Oral and Written
Group Project
No
Comparing Various Species of Cyanobacteria in Bioremediation of Polystyrene
RITA 387
Polystyrene and other microplastics are very harmful to the environment. Because of this, bioremediation tactics are extremely important to solving this issue. The purpose of this study was to compare Spirulina major and Synechocystis nigrescens in their ability to remediate pieces of polystyrene and conclude which is most likely to be the most effective at bioremediation for polystyrene under a short amount of time. It was hypothesized that if all experimental groups containing cyanobacteria were exposed to polystyrene, they would cause an equal decrease in the mass of the polystyrene. To set up the experiment, the polystyrene pieces were weighed with a scale and the mass was recorded before placed in the containers. To complete this experiment, test tubes were prepared for each cyanobacteria species (Spirulina major and Synechocystis nigrescens), and additional test tubes were set up with no cyanobacteria species, but replicated the other environments that the other test tubes had (the seawater medium being present). These test tubes were then exposed to polystyrene for 15 days to see if the mass of the polystyrene would be affected. Using a one-way ANOVA, it was found that the cyanobacteria successfully bioremediated the polystyrene by decreasing the mass. A post hoc Tukey test then indicated that there was a significant difference between the control group and both experimental groups. With this said, there was not a significant difference between both species of cyanobacteria.
