A simple and novel method for the production of polyethylene terephthalate containing agar plates for the growth and detection of bacteria able to hydrolyze this plastic

Polyethylene terephthalate is used in the manufacture of many products. Microbes able to hydrolyze the plastic are known, and offer promise for practical waste management. Screening for hydrolysis usually involves unwieldy culturing in the presence of film. A rapid screening method based on culturing on agar plates is here described.

Automated summary

Polyethylene terephthalate is commonly used in manufacturing various products, and there are known microbes capable of hydrolyzing this plastic, offering potential for effective waste management. Traditional screening methods involve cumbersome culture processes in the presence of film, while this article presents a rapid screening method based on agar plate culturing.