Summary
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1.
Analytical problems in microbial experiments using hydrocarbons as the carbon source are notorious. Several procedures for assays of biomass and substrate have been evaluated. Reliable results for dry matter determination were obtained by centrifugation of the samples in presence of solvents.
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2.
Extraction of hydrocarbons was effected by strong mixing of the emulsion with the solvent. The extract is then submitted to gas liquid chromatography (GLC).
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3.
The procedures for hydrocarbon determination were worked out with model suspensions and evaluated in actual cultivations. Typical batch data from Candida tropicalis experiments showed only slight deviations from a 100% carbon balance. Yields (g biomass per g substrate) were about 112%.
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4.
Loss of carbon atoms in the form of CO2 was 10–20% lower than reported in literature.
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Hug, H., Fiechter, A. Assimilation of aliphatic hydrocarbons by Candida tropicalis . Archiv. Mikrobiol. 88, 77–86 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00424761
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00424761