Abstract: A strain, LSU1601, with a degradation activity for poly(butylenes succinate) (PBS) was isolated from activated sludge. The strain was identified as Acidovorax delafiedii by thallus morphology analysis, colonies characterization, physiological reaction, biochemical reaction and 16S rDNA analysis. This strain exhibited a high production capability for PBS-degrading enzymes when the cultivation temperature was set to 30 ℃, the initial acidity was set to pH 6.8, the cultivation time was set to 48 h, and the shaking speed was set to 120 r/min. The percentage of biodegradation reached 48.2 % when the cultivatable time was 84 h, the cultivatable temperature was 30 ℃, and the initial acidity of culture medium was pH 6.8. The electron microscopic observation of the degraded PBS films showed that the film surfaces presented distinct erosion, and the erosion became more significant with an increase of degradation time. The degradation products of PBS films were assayed as 1, 4-butylene, 1, 4-succinate and butylene-succinate, but no other oligomers were found.

Key words: poly(butylenes succinate), degradation, Acidovorax delafiedii