Problem (Shuler and Kargi, pp 202)

Time OUR (g/h) X (g/l)

A biochemical engineer has determined in her laboratory that the 1 0,011 0,6
optimal productivity of a valuable antibiotic is achieved when the 2 0,008 0,63
carbon nutrient (molasses) is metered into the fermenter at a rate 3 0,084 0,63
4 0,153 0,76
proportional to the growth rate. However, she cannot implement 5 0,198 1,06
her discovery in the antibiotic plant, since there is no reliable way 6 0,273 1,56
to measure the growth rate (dX/dt) or biomass concentration (X) 7 0,393 2,23
during the course of fermentation. It is suggested that an oxygen 8 0,493 2,85
9 0,642 4,15
analyzer be installed on the plant fermenters so that the OUR 10 0,915 5,37
(oxygen uptake rate, g/l-h) may be measured. 11 1,031 7,59
12 1,12 9,4
1. Derive expressions that may be used to estimate X and 13 1,37 11,4
14 1,58 12,22
dX/dt from OUR and time data, assuming that a simple
15 1,26 13
yield and maintenance model may be used to describe the 16 1,58 13,37
rate of oxygen consumption by the culture. 17 1,26 14,47
18 1,12 15,37
2. Calculate values for the yield(YX/O2) parameter from the 19 1,2 16,12
20 0,99 16,18
data 21 0,86 16,67
22Sandip Bankar 0,9 17,01
 Derive expressions that may be used to estimate X and dX/dt from OUR and time data, assuming that a
simple yield and maintenance model may be used to describe the rate of oxygen consumption by the culture.
X
OUR = + mO2 X
YX
O2

O2 used for growth O2 used for maintenance

1 dX
= substitute into above equation
X dt
1 dX
OUR = + mO2 X
YX dt
O2
1 dX
To estimate dX
: In exponential growth phase O2 for growth dominates, hence OUR
dt YX dt
O2

To estimate X: During stationary phase, cells aren't growing and O2 is needed for maintenance only OUR mO X
2

Sandip Bankar
Calculate values for the yield(YX/O2) parameter from the data
Calculate max (Plot graph lnX Vs t (linear range 3-10h) and max. slope is =?)

In exponential growth phase OUR

1 dX or OUR =
X
YX dt YX
O2 O2

Plot OUR Vs X graph and calculate slope = = ? gO2/g.dw.hr
YX
O2
Calculate YX YX =

O2 O2 slope

Sandip Bankar