Page 106 - EER-2-3

Explora: Environment

and Resource

ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE
Tuning enzyme concentration and particle

size for LDPE biodegradation using lipase and
laccase systems

Muhammad Jimada Aliyu 1 , Benjamin Obinna Uloh 1 , Moses Aderemi
2
Olutoye 1 , and Abdulhalim Musa Abubakar *
1 Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Infrastructure, Process Engineering, and
Technology, Federal University of Technology Minna, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria
2 Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Modibbo Adama University, Girei,
Adamawa State, Nigeria

Abstract
The persistent accumulation of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) waste in the
environment has necessitated the exploration of eco-friendly degradation methods.
This study aimed to degrade LDPE films using lipase (Lip) and laccase (Lac) enzymes
obtained from Aspergillus flavus. The effects of enzyme concentration and LDPE
particle size on the degradation rate were examined. LDPE samples were prepared
*Corresponding author: in three particle sizes: 0.5, 1, and 2 cm. These samples were incubated with Lip, Lac,
Abdulhalim Musa Abubakar
(abdulhalim@mau.edu.ng) and a combination of both enzymes (Lip-Lac) at two concentration levels: 50% and
100% (v/v). The degradation process or extent of degradation was monitored over 10
Citation: Aliyu MJ, Uloh BO, and 30 days by analyzing percentage weight loss and observing surface morphology
Olutoye MA, Abubakar AM. Tuning
enzyme concentration and particle using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results indicated that the highest
size for LDPE biodegradation degradation occurred in the Lip-Lac system with 0.5 cm particles at 100% enzyme
using lipase and laccase concentration, yielding a weight loss of 23.81% after 30 days, thereby suggesting that
systems. Explora Environ Resour.
2025;2(3):025220042. the blend performed better than the single enzyme system. SEM analysis confirmed
doi: 10.36922/EER025220042 extensive surface erosion and cracking in smaller particles treated at higher enzyme
Received: May 28, 2025 concentrations. This study also demonstrated that both enzyme concentration and
LDPE particle size significantly influence biodegradation efficiency. Taken together,
1st revised: June 2, 2025
the bifunctional enzyme system is an efficient treatment method for enhancing the
2nd revised: July 17, 2025 degradation process of plastics such as LDPE.
3rd revised: July 29, 2025
Accepted: July 30, 2025 Keywords: LDPE plastic; Enzymatic degradation; Aspergillus flavus; Lipase; Laccase
Published online: August 18, 2025
Copyright: © 2025 Author(s).
This is an Open-Access article 1. Introduction
distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution Plastics are primarily made of synthetic polymers consisting of chains of carbon atoms
License, permitting distribution,
and reproduction in any medium, with other elements—such as hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur—attached to
provided the original work is them. Polymers are widely used due to their durability and stability. Common examples
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properly cited. include polystyrene, polyethylene (PE), polyurethane, nylon, PE terephthalate (PET),
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Publisher’s Note: AccScience polypropylene, and polyvinyl chloride, all of which are present in almost every aspect
Publishing remains neutral with of our lives. Since the discovery of plastics in the 1950s, there has been a significant
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regard to jurisdictional claims in 9
published maps and institutional increase in their production to meet the global demand. It is estimated that more than
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affiliations. 6.3 billion metric tons of plastic waste have been generated over the past 75 years,
Volume 2 Issue 3 (2025) 1 doi: 10.36922/EER025220042