The effect of methanol, formaldehyde, and formic acid on growth of Candida boidinii 11 Bh.

Abstract

The dependence of the specific growth rate of Candida boidinii 11 Bh on methanol concentration follows Monod-type kinetics only in a narrow concentration range (0--0.8 v/v), with a saturation constant of about 19 mmol. With a further increase in methanol concentration of up to 3% v/v, the specific growth rate remains constant. Beyond this level, the growth rate gradually drops to zero, reaching the threshold value at 7.8% v/v. The specific growth rate is also strongly dependent on the size of the inoculum. The biomass yield decreases with an increase in the methanol concentration. Formaldehyde and formic acid, oxidative products of methanol, approximately 100 and ten times, respectively, more toxic to growth than the original substrate.