[Growth of hydrogen bacteria inhibited by carbon monoxide]

The growth of the hydrogen bacterium Alcaligenes eutrophys Z-1 was studied during inhibition by carbon monoxide in turbidostat. The specific growth rate of the bacterium was shown to depend on the concentration of CO in the gaseous phase. The deceleration of the cultural growth during inhibition by CO was accompanied with a decrease of economic coefficients with respect to oxygen and hydrogen. At a CO concentration of 10%, the specific growth rate of the bacterium was 0.25 hr-1 (mu) and the coefficient for utilizing the energy of hydrogen oxidation was 19.6% (eta); at a CO concentration of 20%, mu was 0.18 hr-1 and eta was 14.2%; at a CO concentration of 30%, mu was 0.07 hr-1 and eta was 10.2%. The deceleration of the cultural growth caused by inhibition with CO was not accompanied by changes in the synthesis of nitrogen containing and reserve substances in A. eutrophys Z-1. This strain of hydrogen bacteria was found to be resistant against extraneous microflora during inhibition with CO.