This letter to the editor argues that the assumption of a single value for the acetate recovery factor in carbon-13 stable isotope research for different individuals, can lead to significant errors in the outcomes of substrate utilization measurements.

A bacterium belonging to the Bacillus firmus/lentus-complex and capable of growth on native potato starch was isolated from sludge of a pilot plant unit for potato-starch production. Utilization of a crude enzyme preparation obtained from the culture fluid after growth of the microorganism on native …