Bacillus
sp. SBS
25, a gram positive bacteria isolated from soil was found to be effective
in the biodegradation of natural rubber latex. The products of latex biodegradation were separated
from the ether extract by thin layer chromatography. Gas chromatography and mass spectrometry
showed the biodegradation of the major compound into three simpler fractions with low molecular
weights. This was further confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analysis. A single
band in the control at 2856/cm got split into four subunits such as 2805.45, 2774.12, 2692.40 and
2602.50/cm possibly representing C-H- stretching, the formation of carboxylic acids and hydroxyl
stretching respectively. Decrease in the total organic carbon of the medium, accumulation of lipids
in the bacterial cell and formation of acids in the extract were also observed during the biodegradation
of the natural rubber latex.
