Application of a quartz crystal microbalance to evaluate biodegradability of starch by Bacillus subtilis.
Biodegradation of solution-cast starch films by Bacillus subtilis was monitored using a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). A starch film was formed on the crystal by solution casting and exposed to the Bacillus subtilis culture in a bioreactor. The high sensitivity of the QCM could monitor small weight changes of the starch films on the crystal in the initial stages of biodegradation by secreted exo-enzymes of the bacterium. The feasibility of this approach as a means of quantification and characterisation of biodegradability of different polymeric materials by selected organisms is discussed.
Jenkins
M
M
Department of Chemical Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Melbourne, Australia. Malcolm.Jenkins@eng.monash.edu.au
Horsfall
M
M
Mathew
D
D
Scanlon
M
M
Jayasekara
R
R
Lonergan
G T
GT
D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D019149:Bioreactors; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013213:Starch / Q000378:metabolism*
D013213:Starch