INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE GROWTH-BEHAVIOR OF A TOLUENE-DEGRADING PSEUDOMONAS STRAIN, TAKING THE HIGH VAPOR-PRESSURE OF TOLUENE INTO CONSIDERATION

A toluene-degrading Pseudomonas species isolated from waste water was studied with regard to its growth behaviour. The dependence of the gro wth rate on the pH value, on the toluene concentration and on temperat ure, as well as the O2 consumption of the isolate were determined. The fact that toluene is a highly volatile substrate, which is present bo th in the liquid and in the gas phase of a reactor, was considered in the experiments. It is shown that the volatility of toluene has to be taken into consideration for an accurate determination of the toluene concentration in the medium.