| Abstract: | A mixed yeast culture (Culture 4) was grown on representative gas oil samples as well as paraffin wax. Culture 4 was found to utilize n-paraffinic hydrocarbons almost quantitatively from most gas oil fractions; significant alteration of other hydrocarbon components was not detected. Generation times of 4.0–9.0hr. were typical during the exponential growth phase in fermentations with various gas oil fractions. Cell yields were 70–90% based on n-paraffin utilization. The culture appeared to exhibit maximum efficiency of n-alkane removal in the C19 to C24 range. The cells recovered from the fermentations contained 8.8–9.3% nitrogen. Paraffin wax also served as a suitable carbon source when dissolved in 2,6,10,14-tertramethylpentadecane (pristane). However, substrate utilization appeared to be incomplete. |
