[Disintegration of cells of methane oxidizing bacteria by gas decompression]

The efficacy of disrupting cells of methane oxidizing bacteria M. trichosporium strain 20 by air decompression was measured. The efficacy increased with a rise of the gas pressure, density of the bacterial suspension and the ratio of the air and suspension volumes. The relationship between the efficacy of disruption of the microorganisms and the rate of pressure reduction showed a distinct maximum. The efficacy of the bacterial disruption did not change with an increase of the time of saturation of the bacterial suspension by air from 30 sec. to 60 min.