Accumulation of polysytrene waste is of environmental concern. Although several strategies have been adopted to dispose off these waste, an eco-friendly and cost effective method has to be evolved. Microorganisms have been reported to degrade polystyrene waste. In this study, bacteria prevalent in polystyrene waste dumped soil have been screened for their potential to degrade polystyrene waste. The bacteria adapted to such environment could utilise polystyrene as a carbon source for their growth. Hence, we have traced the degradative metabolites of polystyrene on incubation of polystyrene in minimal salt media inoculated with Pseudomonas sp., isolated from polystyrene waste dumped soil. Polystyrene was degraded to p-xylene, Ethylbenzene, (3-chloro-1-propynyl)-cyclohexane, (3-chloropropyl)methylene-cyclopropane, 1-cyclopropyl-2-nitro-Benzene, Bis(2-methylpropyl)ester, 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, 2-(Heptyloxycarbonyl)benzoic acid, 2-(octyloxycarbonyl)benzoic acid, Dihexyl ester, 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid and Butyl octyl ester, 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid in MSM after a period of one month. Comparatively, inoculation of polystyrene with Pseudomonas sp., in MSM resulted in the formation of 2-(Nonyloxycarbonyl)benzoic acid, 1-chloro-2-methyl-cyclohexene, Dihexyl ester 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid besides these compounds.
