Isolation and Characterization of Bacteria from e-waste

Abstract

The rapid proliferation of electronic devices has led to an increase in electronic waste (e-waste), posing significant environmental and health challenges. Efficient management of e-waste is crucial to mitigate these issues, reduce costs, and recover valuable materials. Recycling e-waste decreases hazardous materials and supports material recovery. However, biofouling caused by bacteria forming biofilms in e-waste recycling processes can reduce efficiency. Understanding the role of microorganisms in biofouling and their antibiotic resistance profiles is essential for improving recycling processes and addressing potential health risks. The purpose of this study is to identify and characterize bacteria in local e-waste samples via biochemical characterisation, to quantify the biofilm ability, and to analyze antibiotic resistance profiles of bacteria isolated from local e-waste.