A Rapid Method for the Detection of Non‐ionic Surfactant‐degrading Micro‐organisms

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Abstract
A rapid colorimetric test, involving the use of Dragendorff's reagent, has been developed for the detection of alcohol ethoxylate‐utilizing micro‐organisms on agar media. A number of putative surfactant‐utilizing bacteria were detected using this screening test and their ability to utilize surfactants was confirmed by more detailed growth studies. Suggestions are made concerning the use of this method in enumerating surfactant‐degrading micro‐organisms in natural environments.