The increased consumption of plastics in the world has been a subject of great concern and special attention by the scientific community. The aim is to promote development of materials that are biodegradable in a shorter time upon disposal in the environment. The most used synthetic plastics are difficult to biodegrade because they are made of long hydrocarbon chains, such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), which are hydrophobic and resistant to the action of microbial enzymes. The use of alternative materials (natural polyesters) can minimize the harm to dumps and landfills upon their disposal, because they are susceptible to the action of microorganisms. In this study we evaluated the biodegradation/biodeterioration of PHBV (poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) films, LDPE (low density polyethylene) and the blend of LDPE/PHBV (70/30) by the fungus Paecilomyces variotii, using different methods: optical microscopy (OM), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).

This study investigated the biodegradation of blends films of poly(vinyl alcohol)/poly(vinyl chloride) (PVA/PVC) and poly(vinyl alcohol)/poly(caprolactone) (PVA/PCL) blends films prepared with dimethylformamide under a variety of conditions by respirometry, spectrophotometry (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and contact angle. The films were buried in the garden soil and in the soil mixed with the landfill leachate for 120 days at 28ºC. Significant levels of biodegradation were achieved in fairly short incubation times in the soil. The results indicated that PVA was the most biodegradable film in the soil and in the soil with the leachate.

Muitos fungos termofílicos são conhecidos como sendo produtores de lipases e o potencial dessas enzimas nas reações de esterificação (reação inversa à hidrólise), há muito tem sido reconhecida. O aspecto do micélio e diversas observações microscópicas foram efetuadas em Thermomyces lanuginosus cultivado em Placas de Petri com meios de culturas YpSs (extrato de levedura + amido + agar) e mais quatro variações na fonte de carbono neste meio. As matérias-primas usadas e avaliadas foram pentaeritritol, ácido oléico e dioleato de pentaeritritol como possíveis fontes de carbono disponíveis ao microrganismo são comumente encontradas na indústria química como intermediários clássicos na síntese de diversos ésteres. Com o crescimento de Thermomyces lanuginosus em todos os meios propostos e a manutenção da capacidade de reprodução mostramos ser esse fungo altamente promissor em futuros trabalhos de biocatálise com microrganismos vivos.

Most thermophilic moulds are known to be lipase producers and the potential for esterification by reversal of lipase hydrolysis has long been recognized. We evaluated the mycelial aspects of T. lanuginosus growing in Petri dishes in YpSs (yeast extract + starch + agar) medium control and four other media based on YpSs containing different carbon source. These raw materials evaluated as carbon sources suppliers for microorganism were pentaerythritol, oleic acid and pentaerythritol dioleate are commonly used in several classic industrial esters synthesis. Thermomyces lanuginosus growed in all studied media and kept its reproduction capacity, showing that this fungus is a promising alternative for future studies of live microorganism's biocatalysts.

The large use of plastics has generated a waste deposit problem. Today plastic wastes represent 20% in volume of the total waste in the municipal landfills. To solve the disposal problem of plastics methods have been employed such as incineration, recycling, landfill disposal, biodegradation and the use of biodegradable polymers. Incineration of plastic wastes provokes pollution due to the production of poisonous gases. Recycling is important to reduce final costs of plastic materials, but is not enough in face of the amount of discarded plastic. In landfills plastic wastes remain undegraded for a long time, causing space and pollution problems. Biodegradation is a feasible method to treat some plastics, but intensive research is necessary to find conditions for the action of microorganisms. All of these methods are important and the practical application of each one depends on the type and amount of the plastic wastes and the environmental conditions. Therefore, a great deal of research has focused on developing biodegradable plastics and its application because it is an important way for minimizing the effect of the large volume of plastic waste discarded in the world.

Um estudo microscópico foi considerado para analisar a eventual adesão de fungos sobre uma superfície de poliéster-imida presente em fios de cobre esmaltados. A microscopia eletrônica de varredura, permitiu observar nestes biofilmes aderidos, uma alta quantidade de pigmentos, hifas e um arsenal enzimático possivelmente atuando na superfície desta macromolécula. Devido a natureza altamente aromática deste material e traços de derivados fenólicos usados como solventes - que se fazem ainda presentes no polímero já reticulado, uma certa atividade anti-fúngica poderia ser esperada, todavia não foram observadas alterações no crescimento dos microrganismos, bem como no processo de adesão dos fungos. Adicionalmente a este fato, os fios esmaltados revelaram total descaracterização de suas propriedades isolantes. Os estudos visam compreender e avaliar o grande potencial demonstrado pelos fungos que poderia em caráter vindouro, explorado em processos de biodeterioração e biodegradação

A microscopical study was undertaken to analyze the eventual fungi adhesion over a polyester imide surface in enameled copper wires. Scanning electron microscopy allowed to observe in these adhered biofilms, a high amount of pigments, hyphae and its enzymatic arsenal probably acting in the surface of the polymer. Due to the highly aromatic nature of this polyester and the residual phenol derivates still present in the reticulated polymer, an antifungal activity could be expected, but no significant changes were noted in fungal growing and in the adhesion process. Additionally, the wires showed completely failure in all insulation properties. The studies aimed to understand and evaluate the great fungi potential that could be explored in biodeterioration and biodegradation processes.