Effect of yeast extract on growth kinetics during aerobic biodegradation of chlorobenzoic acids

The Monod or Andrews kinetic parameters describing the growth of Pseudomonas sp. CPE2 strain on 2,5‐dich!orobenzoic acid and 2‐chlorobenzoic acid, and Al‐caligenes sp. CPE3 strain on 3,4‐dichlorobenzoic acid, 4‐chlorobenzoic acid, and 3‐chlorobenzoic acid were determined from batch and continuous growth experiments conducted in the presence or absence of yeast extract (50 mg/L). Strain CPE2 displayed inhibitory growth kinetics in the absence of yeast extract and a noninhibitory kinetics in the presence of yeast extract. Similar results were obtained for CPE3. The presence of yeast extract also resulted in a significant increase in the affinity of the strains for the chlorobenzoic acids they degraded. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.