title: A rapid method for the determination of metal toxicity to the biodegradation of water insoluble polymers.
abstract: A rapid and inexpensive test has been developed to investigate the influence of elevated heavy metal concentrations on the degradation of biodegradable plastics. Using an overlay agar technique it could be demonstrated that copper concentrations above 8 to 14 mg/L inhibit the degradation of powdered poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), (PHB), by Acidovorax delafieldii. This is the first study demonstrating the inhibiting influence of metals on the biodegradation of PHB.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Pflanzenbiologie, Abteilung Mikrobiologie, Universität Zürich, Zollikerstrasse 107, CH-8008, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Birch
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brandl