Characteristics of Rhodococcus pyridinovorans PYJ-1 for the biodegradation of benzene, toluene, m-xylene (BTX), and their mixtures.

The degradation rates of benzene, toluene, and m-xylene (BTX) by Rhodococcus pyridinovorans PYJ-1, were highest at 30, 50, and 25 mg/l, respectively. The degradation rate was highest for toluene (0.106 mg/mg-protein x h) followed by benzene and m-xylene at the optimum pH and temperature of 7 and 32 degrees C, respectively. For BTX mixtures, toluene was the preferred substrate, but degradation of each BTX was competitively inhibited by other BTX compounds. The degradation rate of each component of in the BTX mixture decreased by 57-89% depending on the concentration (1-5 mg/l) of the component compared with that of the component as a single substrate.