Studies on the utilization of octane by algae

The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of various octane concentrations on a mixed culture of Scenedesmus obliquus, Chlorella vulgaris and Oscillatoria sp. and the ability of these algae to utilize octane as the sole source of organic carbon in the medium. The same investigations were carried out for a mixed culture consisting of algae and the strain Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, and for A. calcoaceticus alone. The results obtained show that all of the strains under study, both algal and bacterial, can grow even at high octane concentrations and that they are able to utilize octane.