APPLICATION OF POWER LAW LOGISTIC MODEL TO GROWTH KINETICS OF BACILLUS LICHENIFORMIS MS3 ON A WATER-INSOLUBLE SUBSTRATE

Abstract

The power law logistic model was utilized to investigate the growth of a hydrocarbon assimilating bacterium on a water-insoluble substrate. To achieve this end, population dynamics of Bacillus licheniformis MS3 in a medium containing n-decane as the sole carbon source was monitored for 30 h. Different initial biosurfactant concentrations and shaking rates were employed to examine the role of mass transfer in the cell growth and the consequent hydrocarbon biodegradation. The amount of n-decane degraded in the system was detected by gas chromatography at the end of the incubation period. The results revealed that when mass transfer limitations were lessened through addition of an initial biosurfactant concentration and agitation, the bacterial growth increased more than three times and the n-decane biodegradation was enhanced from 6.7 to 15.1 mg/100 mL. Finally, the power law logistic model proved to be highly capable in simulating both the experimental results and various systems with water-insoluble carbon sources. © 2014, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.