Pengaruh pH dan Sumber Karbon Terhadap Kemampuan Kapang Plastisphere Pantai Cipta Semarang dalam Mendegradasi Polystyrene

Polystyrene, a pervasive ocean pollutant, may be mitigated through biodegradation by plastisphere fungi, though ocean acidification-driven pH changes can alter their physiology. This study investigated the potential for polystyrene degradation using plastisphere mold isolates from Cipta Beach, Semarang—a site selected for its high pollution and pH susceptibility to acidification. We assessed extracellular enzyme production (manganese peroxidase, lignin peroxidase, alkane hydroxylase), identified potent degraders, and evaluated the impacts of pH and carbon sources. Isolates PSC1, PSC5, and PSC8 (all identified as Aspergillus spp.) demonstrated superior enzyme activity and were selected for degradation testing. Results revealed that Aspergillus PSC1 achieved the highest degradation rate (8.72%) under pH five conditions, while SEM analysis confirmed enhanced degradation efficiency with mannitol supplementation as an exogenous carbon source.