Isolation of Polyacrylamide-degrading Microorganisms from Soil

Two polyacrylamide degrading bacterial strains, No. 2 and No. 11, were isolated from soil, and identified as Bacillus sphaericus No.2 and Acinetobacter sp. No. 11, respectively. Both strains grew on medium containing polyacrylamide as sole carbon and nitrogen sources. B. sphaericus No. 2 and A. sp. No. 11 reduced by 16% and 19%of the initial polyacrylamide concentration, respectively. Optimal pH and temperature in growth of Acinetobacter sp. No. 11 were 8.0 and $37^{\circ}C$, respectively. After 14-day cultivation of A. sp. No. 11, the average molecular weight of polyacrylamide has been shifted from $2.3{\times}10^6\;to\;0.5{\time}106$.