GROWTH DYNAMICS OF A METHYLOTROPH (METHYLOMONAS-L3) IN CONTINUOUS CULTURES .1. FAST TRANSIENTS INDUCED BY METHANOL PULSES AND METHANOL ACCUMULATION

The dynamic behavior of the Ribulose Monophosphate-type Methylomonas L3 in continuous cultures was studied, using methanol pulses to induce fast transients in steady-state cultures of single (methanol) and mixed (methanol plus formaldehyde) substrates. Result suggested the accumulation of methanol in the cells upon pulsing, apparently due to an active transport system. Biomass yield and growth rate were studied in the case of single and mixed cultures. It is also suggested that formaldehyde as a methanol cosubstrate may be an effective means of providing more stable biomass yields and growth rates in reactors with imperfect mixing, and of protecting the reactor against accidentally induced methanol accumulation.