Population explosion in recent years has driven the environment to overuse nondegradable substances. Microbial polyesters known as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are generated and retained as cytoplasmic granules in microorganisms with restricted nutritional availability and can be used to manufacture bioplastics. The current study attempts to screen soil isolates for PHA production and optimize their media parameters. Among all the isolates, 17 were identified and confirmed by Sudan black staining, as they are screening for PHA production and are identified by their colony characteristics. The isolation of the most promising strain, GS-14, was achieved through the sodium hypochlorite method, and subsequent quantification involved establishing a standard curve of crotonic acid. Notably, isolate GS-14 presented the highest yield, which was determined by extrapolating its data onto the standard curve. Characterization of the PHA polymer was subsequently performed, and the results were used to discern its properties. FTIR confirmed characteristic PHA absorption bands, with a prominent C = O stretching peak at 1732 cm(-)(1). LC-MS detected a molecular mass of 641.6 g/mol, indicative of an oligomeric species, while the actual polymer molecular weight is estimated between 5,000 and 20,000 Da. DSC revealed an exothermic peak at 174 degrees C, allowing the calculation of crystallinity, a key determinant of mechanical properties. Furthermore, the PHA-producing organism was identified as Bacillus australimaris through the sequencing of 16 S ribosomal RNA. The media optimization was performed via Minitab software, with statistical analyses employed to interpret the resulting data comprehensively.

The growing amount of plastic waste has significantly worsened environmental pollution, a problem made worse by population growth and non-sustainable manufacturing and consumption practices. This growing concern emphasises the need of developing materials that lessen traditional plastics' harmful impact on the environment. An effective substitute is offered by bioplastics, which are made from natural plant biomass such as lignin, starch, cellulose, and hemicellulose as well as bacterial polyester polymers. There is uncertainty over their actual environmental benefits as a consequence of the challenges associated with their identification, categorisation, and disposal. This study provides a thorough analysis of the biodegradation properties of bioplastics, highlighting how well they function in diverse environmental conditions. Our findings suggest that the pace at which bioplastics decompose varies significantly depending on the kind of material used as well as specific environmental factors like moisture level and microbial activity. These discoveries are crucial for developing waste management strategies and streamlining the production of bioplastics in order to increase sustainability. Subsequent endeavours have to prioritise the improvement of these bioplastics to ensure consistent biodegradation effectiveness and raising public awareness to promote their proper disposal, therefore magnifying their advantageous impacts on reducing plastic pollution.