GC-MS Characterization of Low-density Polyethylene Degradation Products by Indigenous Bacteria from Landfill Soil in Iraq

Rocznik Ochrona Środowiska 2026, vol. 28, pp. 227-234

Maryam Saad Naji This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Aalaa Fahim Abbas 

	University of Al-Qadisiyah, Iraq
	This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
	https://doi.org/10.54740/ros.2026.017

Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is considered a widespread environmental pollutant that threatens ecosystems due to its non-biodegradable nature. However, different types of bacteria could help with the biodegradation process of synthetic LDPE. This study aimed to investigate the capacity of local bacteria to degrade LDPE in landfill soil and to evaluate their degradation efficiency. Fifty bacterial isolates were obtained through enrichment in a mineral salt medium supplemented with LDPE as the sole carbon source. Initial screening was performed using the clear-zone method with polyethylene glycol (PEG), and 7 isolates showed initial degrading activity. Following characterization, Staphylococcus haemolyticus and Acinetobacter baumannii were found to possess the highest potential degrading capacity. After 60 days of incubation, the degrading capacity was assessed by measuring the weight loss of LDPE sheets. S. haemolyticus recorded a 20% potential weight loss, while A. baumannii complex achieved the highest weight loss at 27.5%. The control sample showed no significant weight change. To confirm chemical changes in the polymer, GC-MS analysis of the degradation products was performed. The bacterial-treated samples showed a range of organic compounds, including fatty acid derivatives, aromatic acids, and esters, while no peaks were recorded in the control sample. These results indicate oxidation and gradual breakdown of the polyethylene hydrocarbon chains, leading to the formation of low-molecular-weight compounds that can enter bacterial metabolic pathways. The correlation between weight loss and the appearance of chemical degradation products also reflects partial biodegradation of the plastic. This study highlights the environmental importance of landfill sites as natural sources for isolating bacteria that can adapt to and break down plastics, thereby opening prospects for using these microorganisms to develop bioremediation technologies to reduce the accumulation of plastic waste in the environment.

Biodegradation, Dumpsite soils, Low-density polyethylene (LDPE), Indigenous bacteria, GC-MS characterization

AMA Style
Naji M., Abbas A.. GC-MS Characterization of Low-density Polyethylene Degradation Products by Indigenous Bacteria from Landfill Soil in Iraq. Rocznik Ochrona Środowiska. 2026; 28. https://doi.org/10.54740/ros.2026.017

ACM Style
Naji M., Abbas A.. 2026. GC-MS Characterization of Low-density Polyethylene Degradation Products by Indigenous Bacteria from Landfill Soil in Iraq. Rocznik Ochrona Środowiska. 28. DOI:https://doi.org/10.54740/ros.2026.017

ACS Style
Naji M., Abbas A., GC-MS Characterization of Low-density Polyethylene Degradation Products by Indigenous Bacteria from Landfill Soil in Iraq Rocznik Ochrona Środowiska 2026, 28, 227-234. https://doi.org/10.54740/ros.2026.017

APA Style
Naji M., Abbas A. (2026). GC-MS Characterization of Low-density Polyethylene Degradation Products by Indigenous Bacteria from Landfill Soil in Iraq. Rocznik Ochrona Środowiska, 28, 227-234. https://doi.org/10.54740/ros.2026.017

ABNT Style
NAJI M., ABBAS A.. GC-MS Characterization of Low-density Polyethylene Degradation Products by Indigenous Bacteria from Landfill Soil in Iraq. Rocznik Ochrona Środowiska, v. 28, p. 227-234, 2026. https://doi.org/10.54740/ros.2026.017

Chicago Style
Maryam Saad Naji, Aalaa Fahim Abbas. 2026. "GC-MS Characterization of Low-density Polyethylene Degradation Products by Indigenous Bacteria from Landfill Soil in Iraq". Rocznik Ochrona Środowiska 28, 227-234. https://doi.org/10.54740/ros.2026.017

Harvard Style
Naji M., Abbas A. (2026) "GC-MS Characterization of Low-density Polyethylene Degradation Products by Indigenous Bacteria from Landfill Soil in Iraq", Rocznik Ochrona Środowiska, 28, pp. 227-234. doi:https://doi.org/10.54740/ros.2026.017

IEEE Style
Naji M., Abbas A., "GC-MS Characterization of Low-density Polyethylene Degradation Products by Indigenous Bacteria from Landfill Soil in Iraq", RoczOchrSrod, vol 28, pp. 227-234. https://doi.org/10.54740/ros.2026.017