Dataset of elemental composition of LB Lennox (buffered) medium with and without glucose supplementation

Biologists are typically concerned about the medium composition of growth medium. But, the metals and metalloids concentrations of growth medium may be important for understanding the growth behaviour of microorganisms in the medium, as well as for purposes of quality control. This dataset reports the elemental concentrations of buffered LB Lennox medium with and without glucose supplementation detected by Agilent 7500a inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) operated in hot plasma mode (1260 W). Results revealed elevated concentrations of boron (31-40 ppm), magnesium (123-126 ppm), aluminium (15-19 ppm), calcium (101-140 ppm), chromium (19-23 ppm), manganese (227-285 ppm), iron-56 (196-255 ppm), iron-57 (896-945 ppm), nickel (2-3 ppm), and copper (45-46 ppm) in both glucose supplemented and unsupplemented LB Lennox (buffered) medium. Relatively high concentrations of chromium and copper may pose toxicity to microbial cells and affect their growth and biomass formation. Buffering capacity of the LB medium came from 89 mM phosphate constituted by dipotassium hydrogen phosphate, and potassium dihydrogen phosphate. Overall, the presented dataset opens our eyes to elevated concentrations of chromium and copper in LB Lennox medium, and holds implications for our understanding of poor growth of some sensitive microorganisms in the common rich medium.