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Appl Environ Microbiol. 1975 April; 29(4): 540-545
Copyright © 1975 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

New Method for the Isolation and Identification of Methanogenic Bacteria

Department of Microbiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1W5, Canada

ABSTRACT

A new technique is reported for the rapid growth and detection of methanogenic bacteria by using petri plates. The method employs an anaerobic glove box containing an inner chamber with separate gas-flushing facilities. The numbers of methanogenic bacteria recovered from domestic sewage sludge are comparable to those recovered by other methods. The methanogenic organisms isolated from sludge include Methanosarcina, Methanospirillum, Methanobacterium strain M. o. H., and Methanobacterium formicicum. Identification of colonies containing methanogenic bacteria is facilitated by taking advantage of the unique fluorescence properties of these organisms. Colonies as small as 0.5 mm can be detected by exposing them to long-wave ultraviolet light.