Biodegradation of Natural Rubber by Rhizopus sp. and it’s Enzyme Profiling

Rubber products are widely used in daily life, and most of them are made from natural rubber (NR), which is obtained from the latex of Hevea brasiliensis, commonly known as the rubber tree. However, the disposal of used natural rubber products has become a global solid waste problem. Microbial degradation offers a potential eco-friendly solution to this issue. In the present study, different fungal species were isolated from soil samples collected at sites where natural rubber had been dumped. Among the isolates, Rhizopus sp. (10.5%) showed the highest efficiency in degrading rubber. The degradation was further confirmed using SEM, FTIR, and Schiff’s staining techniques. Enzymatic analysis revealed that laccase and manganese peroxidase, produced by Rhizopus sp., played a key role in the degradation process. Thus, the study concludes that Rhizopus sp. can be effectively utilized for the eco-friendly biodegradation of rubber, providing a sustainable solution to rubber waste management.