COMPARATIVE-STUDIES ON UTILIZATION OF FATTY-ACIDS AND HYDROCARBONS INNOCARDIA-AMARAE AND RHODOCOCCUS SPP

Comparative investigations on the substrate utilization of Nocardia am arae and Rhodococcus spp. (R. rhodochrous and R. erythropolis) were ca rried out using various fatty acids and paraffinic hydrocarbons. Upon calculation and comparison of their specific growth rates (mu) during the logarithmic phase, it was shown that the lower fatty acids (C2-C5) were utilized preferably and the highest mu value was obtained in oct adecane (C18) for all three strains. The initial total organic carbon (TOC) concentration affecting the growth of the 3 strains was investig ated, using octadecane as the carbon source. From a comparison of the kinetic parameters of the 3 strains with those obtained in the past st udies, it was found that Rhodococcus spp. had higher growth rate and l ower affinity for octadecane than N. amarae.