DEGRADATION OF PYRENE AT LOW DEFINED OXYGEN CONCENTRATIONS BY A MYCOBACTERIUM SP

In a fermenter, a Mycobacterium sp. was grown on pyrene at defined oxygen concentrations in a range from 11.4 to 227 mu M. The maximal growth rate (mu(max) = 0.057 h(-1)) and dissolved oxygen half-saturation constant (K-DO = 5.9 mu M) were calculated. At 3.4 mu M, the growth rate (p = 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.