The effects of glucose and glycine on the biodegradation of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHB / V) in a soil suspension were studied. Relationship between the weight loss of PHB / V and the proliferation rates of the degrading bacteria was investigated. The weight loss after 1 week was 2.60 ± 0.3% in the soil suspension supplemented with 20 m of glucose (SSS-20G) and 4.76 ± 0.48% in that supplemented with 20 m of glycine (SSS-20gly). These ratios were lower than that in the control soil suspension (CSS) (7.14 ± 0.93%). After 5 weeks, the weight loss had increased to 24.97 ± 2.25% in SSS-20G and 31.85 ± 2.55% in SSS-20gly but only to 18.26 ± 2.19% in CSS. Nutrients in PHB / V biodegradation play important roles in the inhibition and acceleration of different biodegrading phases and eventually accelerate the PHB / V biodegradation in the soil suspension. © 2002 Taylor &amp
Francis Group, LLC.