Statistical optimization of process variables for improved Polyethylene terephthalate plastic degradation by a rhizospheric bacterial consortium

Statistical optimization of process variables for improved Polyethylene terephthalate plastic degradation by a rhizospheric bacterial consortium | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Statistical optimization of process variables for improved Polyethylene terephthalate plastic degradation by a rhizospheric bacterial consortium Vaishali Dhaka, Simranjeet Singh, Raman Rao, Shashank Garg, Jastin Samuel, and 3 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4922548/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 28 Apr, 2025 Read the published version in Scientific Reports → Version 1 posted 11 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The current study focuses on the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) powder degradation potential of a rhizobacterial consortium screened from the rhizosphere of plants growing at plastic-polluted sites. The rhizobacterial isolates were screened, and the ability of PET powder degradation was studied for up to 18 days. For observing the efficiency of degradation, all three rhizobacterial strains with the highest percentage of degradation were combined to formulate the consortium. The Response Surface Methodology was used to optimize the process variables. The combinations demonstrating the highest weight reduction percentage for PET were selected for further degradation studies. The changes in the structure and surfaces that occurred after biodegradation on the plastic were observed through SEM and FTIR analysis. The obtained results showed the disappearance and elongation of the peak, signifying that the rhizobacterial consortium could modify the PET plastic. The weight reduction percentage of PET powder (300 µm) was 71.12% at optimized conditions (29.8ºC, 7.02 pH and 1g/L carbon source). The mathematical model developed through RSM is found to be significant (P < 0.05), and optimization and validation experiments were also well correlated for the process. Earth and environmental sciences/Environmental sciences/Environmental chemistry Physical sciences/Engineering/Chemical engineering Response Surface Methodology PET plastic Novel rhizobacterial consortia SEM FTIR HPLC Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 28 Apr, 2025 Read the published version in Scientific Reports → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 09 Dec, 2024 Reviews received at journal 08 Nov, 2024 Reviewers agreed at journal 28 Oct, 2024 Reviews received at journal 19 Sep, 2024 Reviewers agreed at journal 12 Sep, 2024 Reviewers agreed at journal 10 Sep, 2024 Reviewers invited by journal 10 Sep, 2024 Editor assigned by journal 03 Sep, 2024 Editor invited by journal 20 Aug, 2024 Submission checks completed at journal 16 Aug, 2024 First submitted to journal 16 Aug, 2024 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-4922548","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":352928997,"identity":"ba64cf70-4a4a-433b-aca7-ad397ce56815","order_by":0,"name":"Vaishali Dhaka","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Department of Microbiology, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Vaishali","middleName":"","lastName":"Dhaka","suffix":""},{"id":352928998,"identity":"81d494f5-bc2e-4a6d-be9c-7e0bbdc14bea","order_by":1,"name":"Simranjeet Singh","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Interdisciplinary Centre 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