Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hi! I am working on a project for science fair which is as follows - Which individual or combination of certain microorganisms decompose the most substantial amount of polyethylene during a determined period of time? However, I have a question that I can not find the answer to - Does pseudomonas aeruginosa eat every part of what polyethylene is made of, or just a certain part of it? Thank you in advance!

Hello gikae,

Polyethylene is made of just one ingredient--polymerized ethylene--so I think it must be able to eat it all if it eats any part. A quick web search indicates that pseudomonas aeruginosa can only attack polyethylene after it has inorganically oxidized into low-molecular-weight fragments, so the oxidation is a prerequisite for the overall decomposition.

WW