Degradation of hydrocarbons and alcohols by Rhodococcus erythropolis DCL14:: A comparison in scale performance

The degradation of alkanes and alcohols by Rhodococcus erythropolis DCL14 growing cells was tested at different reactor scales, ranging from a 2-L fermenter to 300 mu L 96-well plates. The highest growth rates were attained in the fermenter, where pH, temperature and aeration rate, in particular, are monitored and controlled. However, the results acquired in reactors smaller than 100 mL indicate that these reactors may be successfully used in testing carbon sources, since the normalized results obtained with the different carbons sources were maintained in the 100 - 0.3 mL range. This study also shows the great potential of R. erythropolis DCL14 cells to degrade a wide range of alcohols and alkanes, which may be used in bioremediation of contaminated sites.