OBJECTIVETo investigate the kinetics of quinoline biodegradation by Burkholderia pickttii, a gram negative rod-shaped aerobe, isolated in our laboratory.

METHODSHPLC (Hewlett-Packard model 5050 with an UV detector) was used for the analysis of quinoline concentration. GC/MS method was used to identify the intermediate metabolites of quinoline degradation.

RESULTSThe biodegradation of quinoline was inhibited by quinoline at a high concentration, and the degradation process could be described by the Haldane model. The kinetic parameters based on Haldane substrate inhibition were evaluated. The values were vmax = 0.44 h(-1), K(S) = 166.7 mg/L, Ki = 650 mg/L, respectively. The quinoline concentration to avoid substrate inhibition was inferred theoretically and determined to be 329 mg/L.

CONCLUSIONThe biodegradation of quinoline conforms to the Haldane inhibition model and the main intermediate metabolite of quinoline biodegradation is 2-hydroxy-quinoline.