MICROBIAL-DEGRADATION OF NATURAL AND SYNTHETIC RUBBERS BY NOVEL BACTERIA BELONGING TO THE GENUS GORDONA

The biological attack of microorganisms on rubber materials was invest igated in order to evaluate possible contributions of biotechnology fo r refinement and recycling of used rubber products. Adaptation of micr obial enrichment cultures with tire crumb material for several months resulted in enhanced growth of microorganisms especially on NR and on SBR, In order to elucidate general mechanisms of bacterial action on h ydrophobic substances like rubbers, different kinds of polyisoprenes w ere chosen for further examination. The polyisoprenoids were employed as sole nutrient source for enrichment of microorganisms that show con siderable deterioration of the materials and enhanced mineralization o f the rubber hydrocarbon.