Degradation of pyrene at low defined oxygen concentrations by a Mycobacterium sp.

Abstract

In a fermentor, a Mycobacterium sp. was grown on pyrene at defined oxygen concentrations in a range from 11.4 to 227 μM. The maximal growth rate (μ(max) = 0.057 h-1) and the dissolved oxygen half-saturation constant (K(DO) = 5.9 μM) were calculated. At 3.4 μM, the growth rate (μ = 0.011 h-1) was only half of what was expected from the kinetic data. Apparently, this was due to limitation of an oxygenase of pyrene degradation.