Biodegradation of Poly-(beta)-Hydroxyalkanoates in a Lake Sediment Sample Increases Bacterial Sulfate Reduction

The addition of a poly-(beta)-hydroxyalkanoate (PHA) to incubation bottles containing anaerobic sediment from Lake Ciso (Banyoles, Catalonia, northeast Spain) was correlated with an increase in sulfide production. The concentration of PHA diminished to 51 to 99% of the initial amount. Sodium molybdate (1 mM) decreased the rate of PHA degradation and inhibited sulfide production, thus indicating that PHAs serve as carbon and electron sources for sulfate reduction.