Biodegradación del poliestireno expandido pretratado con radiación ultravioleta en suelo con hongos del género Aspergillus sp

Contextualization: expanded polystyrene (EP) is a hydrophobic material, so it can remain in nature without decomposing for years; it is also difficult to recycle. Therefore, research is being carried out to implement technologies for its degradation, among which are biotechnological processes using fungi. Knowledge gap: the effect of EP degradation by fungi of the genus Aspergillus sp. in soil in different periods of time, through the use of PS pretreated with UV light, as a source of carbon and energy for the fungi, is unknown. Purpose: to evaluate the biodegradation of EP with the fungi Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger individually and in consortium in soil. Methodology: EP samples with dimensions 4 cm x 4 cm x 0.3 cm were used, washed and then treated with ultraviolet light at 254 nm. The fungi Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger were grown on Sabouraud agar to obtain the inoculum. The soil was sterilized during one hour at 121 °C, 103,4 KPa and then 70 g of soil were added in aluminium pots to which the EP sample and inoculum were added according to the experimental design. After the process, the samples were washed and weighed to determine the percentage of biodegradation. In addition, the presence of the fungi in the soil was quantified to verify their survival. Results and conclusions: The fungi Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger can biodegrade EP reaching values between 14-18% individually and in consortium without significant differences between them.