Identification of Phthalate Ester-assimilating Bacteria

Abstract
Seventeen bacterial capable of utilizing phthalate esters isolated from natural sources were identified. Based on morphological and biochemical characteristics, type of cell division, GC content in DNA, principal amino acid in the cell wall and cellular fatty acid composition, 10 isolates were identified as Nocardia erythropolis, one isolate as Pseudomonas acidovorans, another as Pseudomonas cepacia and four as members of the genus of Corynebacterium.