African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 3 (7), pp. 353-354, July 2004
ISSN 1684–5315 © 2004 Academic Journals

Short Communication

Oxygen uptake kinetics Of Pseudomonas sp. strain VB grown under limiting concentration of 2-methoxyethanol

Ekhaise Frederick Osaro¹* and Aluyi, H. S. A².

¹Universitat Bayreuth, Lehrstuhl fur Mikrobiologie, D-95440 Bayreuth Germany.

²University of Benin, Faculty of Science, Department of Microbiology, P. M. B 1154, Benin City, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author: Present Address: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Benin, P.M.B. 1154,  Benin City, Nigeria. E-mail: fredfldyn@yahoo.com. 

Accepted 22 July 2004

Oxygen uptake and 2-methoxyethanol oxidation kinetics of 2-methoxyethanol degrading  bacterium Pseudomonas sp. strain VB were studied. The bacterium was grown under oxygen saturating conditions with limiting concentrations of 2-methoxyethanol. Pseudomonas sp. strain VB was found to utilize one mole of oxygen per one mole of 2-methoxyethanol as opposed to four moles of oxygen required for total oxidative metabolism. This indicates that intermediate metabolites are involved during the degradation of 2-methoxyethanol under aerobic conditions.

Key words: Oxygen uptake, 2-methoxyethanol, Pseudomonas sp. strain VB biodegradation.