A Finding of Rubber-Degrading Fungi and Feedstock Recycle of Vulcanized Rubber by the Fungal Behavior

Abstract

It was found that wood rotting fungi isolated in Tottori were able to degrade vulcanized sdid rubber. Two white rot fungi, Trichaptum abietinum TUES-023 and Trichaptum biforme TUES-016 were significantly decreased tensile strength of natural rubber sheets and changed surface morphology of the rubber. In addition, calcium carbonate in the rubber was removed and sulfide bonds in the rubber were also oxidized after fungal treatment. We herein introduce potential of rubber-degrading fungi available for feedstock recycle of vulcanized rubber.