Abstract
A simple, accurate automated respirometer was proposed to be used for testing the biodegradability of various xenobiotics in soil. Compost was used as a source for microorganisms. The basic principle of the respirometer was that all the O2 consumed by the microorganisms was replaced by an equal amount of O2 produced in an electrolytic cell, which was plotted against time in a registration unit. The proposed method was illustrated with pentachlorophenol as a xenobiotic compound.