SURFACE-ACTIVITY MEASUREMENTS IN BACTERIAL SUSPENSIONS BY POLAROGRAPHY

The adsorption properties of heterotrophic bacteria suspensions and th eir centrifugates were examined by polarography using polarized droppi ng mercury as a model hydrophobic adsorption surface. Adsorption effec ts in suspensions were attributed to dissolved and particulate surface -active organic matter. Recorded production of surface-active organic matter by heterotrophic bacteria, investigated under different conditi ons in 0.6 M NaCl solutions, indicates that the method is useful for t he nonspecific determination of organic surface-active matter.