BIODEGRADABILITY OF DIESEL OIL

In batch culture diesel oil was degraded rapidly, with a maximum growt h rate (for a consortium of microorganisms) of 0.55 h(-1). The corresp onding yield Y-SX was 0.1 Cmol/Cmol. In a continuous stirred tank reac tor the maximum dilution rate was about 0.25 h(-1), with a yield of 0. 3 Cmol/Cmol. With a residence time of 1 day 82% of the influent oil wa s degraded. In the batch reactor, of the mixture of linear and branche d alkanes the linear alkanes were degraded fastest and with the highes t yield. Only after most of the linear alkanes had disappeared were th e branched alkanes consumed. In a CSTR a large part of the branched al kanes was not degraded.