Poly β-Hydroxybutyrate Production by Bacillus subtilis NG220 Using Sugar Industry Waste Water

Table 6

Degradation of polymer sheet in natural samples.

Natural sample	Incubation (days)	% weight loss of polymer sheet	Microbial population
Soil	0	0	3.0×10^6
	10	30.2±0.5	4.0×10^7
	20	43.5±1.2	4.9×10^7
	30	70.6±2.6	5.2×10^8
	40	98.3±2.1	5.4×10^8
Compost	0	0	5×10^6
	10	50.2±0.5	2×10^7
	20	80.2±0.5	1.2×10^8
	30	100%	3.0×10^9
Industrial sludge	0	0	2.5×10^5
	10	26.3±1.2	3.2×10^6
	20	57.6±1.5	4.9×10^6
	30	73.6±1.5	5.6×10^6
	40	97.2±22	6.0×10^6

∗Degradation study was followed in lab conditions at room temperature.