BIODEGRADATION OF LDPE CELLULOSE BLENDS BY COMMON FUNGI/

We have developed a cellulose-polyethylene blend polymer film for degr adative susceptibility to brown rot or cellulasic fungi. Paxon low-den sity polyethylene (LDPE) polymer pellets were melt-blended with 8855 c ellulose. A pure polyethylene sample was melted pressed and used as th e control. Naturally occurring fungi were harvested from decaying wood and cultured on full nutrient agar until individual phenotypes develo ped. The discrete fungal colonies were isolated and transferred to bac teriological agar with carboxymethylcellulose as the only carbon sourc e. Surviving fungi were subjected to an indirect cellulase assay to co nfirm cellulolytic properties. Trichoderma viride showed 100% surface area growth on low-density polyethylene (LDPE) blended with 8% (w/w) c ellulose in 90 days. Growth coverage by Gliomastix on LDPE blended wit h 8% cellulose reached 100% in 150 days, and up to 72% growth activity on blends with 1.5% cellulose, 1% cellulose, and the control LDPE.