[Aniline oxidation by microorganisms in chemostat cultivation]

Under the conditions of chemostat cultivation, a mixed culture of microorganisms oxidized aniline at a gradually increasing concentration (up to 2.5 g/litre) as a sole source of carbon and nitrogen. The specific rate of aniline oxidation was as high as 160 mg per 1 g of dry biomass when aniline concentration in the growth medium was 2.5 g/litre. As aniline concentration in the growth medium was gradually raised, selection of the microorganisms took place and the number of the strains decreased from ten to two. The growth rate of the microorganisms fell down abruptly when phosphorus concentration in the medium was below 35 mg per 1 g of aniline.