[Bacteria decomposing alpha-methylstyrol]

Two bacterial strains assimilating alpha-methylsterene as a sole carbon and energy source were isolated from the sewage of an industrial plant producing synthetic rubber. The morphological, cultural and physiologo-biochemical properties of the strains were studied and their taxonomic position was determined. One of the cultures was classified as Bacillus cereus and the other as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The rate of alpha-methylsterene destruction in the chemically defined medium was shown to depend on the conditions of cultivation.