Biodegradation analysis
All isolates were grown overnight in 100 ml LB broth cultures in
250 ml Erlenmeyer flasks at 28 uC. All broth cultures were
centrifuged and biodegradation analysis conducted on both cells
and supernatants. Supernatants were 0.22 mm sterile filtered and
the [Cnmim]Cl (n=C2–C10) added from stock solutions in LB
broth that were 0.22 mm sterile filtered to achieve a concentration
of 1 g L21. Cell pellets were washed to remove residual LBB by
resuspending in M9 minimal salts medium containing no carbon
source and pelleting again. The M9 medium was discarded after
centrifugation and the washed pellets were resuspended in M9
minimal salts medium containing [Cnmim]Cl (n =C2–C10). All
samples were incubated at 28uC and 100 rpm, and 1 ml sampleswere removed periodically and analysed by HPLC