A simple and quick way to measure the biodegradation of
polymers is by determining the weight loss. Microorgan-
isms that grow within the polymer lead to an increase in
Fig. 1 Variation in pH level during biodegradation due to microbial
activity
Fig. 2 Degradation of LDPE films (initial weight: 30 mg with
1.5 9 1.5 cm) on synthetic medium inoculated with strain BSM-1
and BSM-2 incubated at 33.3 C for 60 days
3 Biotech (2015) 5:81–86 83
123weight due to accumulation, whereas a loss of polymer
integrity leads to weight loss. Weight loss is proportional to
the surface area since biodegradation usually is initiated at
the surface of the polymer. After the degradation period,
the LDPE films were treated with SDS as surfactant which
denatured the cells and completely washed off from the
surface. The reduction in weight was observed after the
biodegradation of LDPE (Fig. 2).