ABSTRACT
Quantitative and Semiquantitative Measurements of Cellulose Biodegradation PAUL J. WEIMER^ E. I . du Pont de Nemours & Company, Incorporated , Wilmington, Delaware
I. INTRODUCTION
The complex structure of cellulose and cellulosic materials introduces considerable problems to the researcher attempting to measure its biodegradation. The rate and extent of cellulose degradation by mi croorganisms and their enzymes is dependent in part on physical and chemical parameters such as temperature, pH, and composition of the reaction mixture. Moreover, because cellulose is a solid substrate of complex structure, a number of substrate-related factors are major determinants of degradability (Table 1 ). A general discussion of the effect of cellulose structure on its degradability may be found in Chap. 14 of this volume or in several excellent reviews (2 3 -2 6 ) .
