Fixed bacterial biomass estimated by potential exoproteolytic activity

Abstract

A method is proposed to estimate the bacterial biomass fixed on solid supports colonized in water without detachment of the cells from the supports. The method consists of measuring an enzymatic activity of the fixed bacteria: the potential exoproteolytic activity, which has been shown to be proportional to the bacterial biomass.Key words: fixed bacterial biomass, support colonization, exoproteolytic activity.