Calorimetric investigations on the degradation of water insoluble hydrocarbons by the bacterium Rhodococcus opacus 1CP

The growth of the bacterium Rhodococcus opacus 1CP on water insoluble carbon sources (n-tetradecane and n-hexadecane) has been investigated by calorimetry, using the LKB 8700 device. The applied method proved to be well suited for process-monitoring in heterogeneous systems. High reproducibility was obtained for cultivation on the chosen hydrocarbons. Equations for the growth process were constructed based on yield coefficients for the products of the microbial growth. Good correspondence of experimental and calculated enthalpy change was accomplished by regarding the production of biosurfactants as additional product.