Biochemical Engineering
8CH01
Dr. Sudhir Ranganath
Contact Hours/Week: 3 (Lecture) Credits: 3.0
CIE Marks: 50
Total Lecture Hours: 39 SEE Marks: 50
UNIT IV
KINETICS OF CELL GROWTH & PRODUCT FORMATION
Major Cellular metabolic pathways
Growth kinetics in batch culture (Monod)
Substrate-limited growth kinetics
Kinetic models with growth inhibitors
Transient cell growth kinetics
Cell growth in continuous culture
Ideal Chemostat
Problem 22
The following data were obtained in a chemostat for the growth of E.
aerogenes on a glycerol-limited growth medium at S0 = 10 mg/ml.
D (h-1) S (mg/ml) X (mg/ml)
0.05 0.012 3.2
0.10 0.028 3.7
0.20 0.05 4.0
0.40 0.10 4.4
0.60 0.15 4.75
0.70 0.176 4.9
0.80 0.80 4.5
0.84 9.00 0.5
For this system, estimate the values of:
a. Ks (mg glycerol/ml)
b. µm (h-1)
c. YmX/S (mg cells/mg glycerol)
d. ms (mg glycerol/mg cell.h)
Problem 22: Solution to (a)
'( ) 0 *+ 0 0
We have, ! = #$%& = − ./ → = +
*+ ,) 1,23 '( ) '(
So, to find Ks, we must find kd first and ./ = 5 6 8⁄) 9)
0 0 6> 0 0
To find 5 6 8⁄) we have = + so plot ?@.
: ;<< =⁄> : ( =⁄> 1 : ;<< =⁄> 1
0 ∆) )C D) 0
How to find = = from S and X data find
: ;<< =⁄> ∆8 8 : ;<< =⁄>
D (h-1) S (mg/ml) X (mg/ml) 1/D ΔS ΔS/X or 1/YappX/S
0.05 0.012 3.2 20 9.988 3.12
0.10 0.028 3.7 10 9.972 2.7
0.20 0.05 4.0 5 9.95 2.49
0.40 0.10 4.4 2.5 9.90 2.25
0.60 0.15 4.75 1.67 9.85 2.075
0.70 0.176 4.9 1.43 9.824 2.005
0.80 0.80 4.5 1.25 9.20 2.045
0.84 9.00 0.5 1.19
Problem 22: Solution to (a)
", -.//0 ", ,/1-.23/
! " $⁄% = 0.491 and 4% = 0.0578 , so 9: = ;. ;<=> ?@A
", ,/1-.23/ ", -.//.8
B B
To find, Ks and µm, plot GH.
CDEF %
Problem 22: Solution to (a) and (b)
"/ /0123450
From the above plot, !" = 0.95 ℎ)* and +, = 0.141
"6
Problem 23
Calculate the productivity of a chemostat under the following conditions:
§ Assume Monod kinetics apply. Assume that negligible amounts of biomass
must be converted to product (<1%).
§ Assume the Leudeking-Piret equation for product formation applies.
§ Assume steady state and the following is given:
'- *
! = 0.8&' ( ' *⁄+ = 0.5 &' = 1.0 ℎ01
'- +
'- :
23 = 1000 45/7 8+ = 10 45/7 9 = 0.5ℎ01
'- *
'- :
; = 0.4
'- *
Problem 23: Solution
From product balance, we have !" = $% & = '(& + *& (from Leudeking-Piret
equation
From biomass balance, (+ = !
,- . /0 9
From substrate balance, (+ = then & = 2 3 5⁄. 67 −
/0 1. ,- :9
/0 9
Therefore, !" = '! + * 2 3 5⁄. 67 −
,- :9
3+ %
Substituting all values, we get " = 0.492
@
3+ %
Therefore, !" = 394
@.B
Problem 24
Consider a chemostat. You wish to know the number of cells in the reactor and
the fraction of the cells that are viable (alive & dividing).
a. Write an equation for viable cell number (nv). Assume that
(),* +
!"#$,& = − 0 1 2 where, !"#$,& is the net specific replication rate
,-,* .+
!3,& is the max specific replication rate
4+,& is the saturation parameter
b. Derive an expression for the value of S at steady state.
c. Write the number balance in the chemostat on dead cells (nd).
d. Derive an expression for the fraction of the total population which are dead
cells.
Problem 24: Solution to (a) & (b)
.*/
Balance on nv is !"#$ − !"# + '( "# )*+, = '(
.,
1
Since, !"#$ = 0 (no cells in feed or sterile feed) & =4
23
567 9:,< =
We get, = − @A 5 − B 67
58 >=,< ?=
.*/ CD,3 E
b. =0= = H′. + 4
., FG,3 ?E
@5 ?B >=,<
Solving we get ==
9:,<J@5JB
Problem 24: Solution to (c) & (d)
$,-
c. Balance on dead cells nd is −"#$ + &' #( )′$ = &'
$.
/0/
we get, = 2′/ 03 − 40/
/1
$,- ,- :-
d. $.
= )′$ #( − 7#$ = 0 →
,9
=
;
,- ,9 :- ,9 ,- <,9 :- ,9 > ;
+ = + → = +1 → = ?- =
,9 ,9 ; ,9 ,9 ; ,- <,9 <> :- <;
@
,9 ;
Fraction of live cells =
,A :- <;
0/ 4
Fraction of dead cells
0B
=C−2
/ <4
Problem 25
A chemostat study was performed with yeast. The medium flow rate was varied
and the steady-state concentration of cells and glucose in the fermenter were
measured & recorded. The inlet concentration of glucose was set at 100 g/L.
The volume of the fermenter contents was 500 mL. The inlet stream was
sterile.
Flow rate, Cell concentration, Substrate concentration,
F (mL/h) X (g/L) S (g/L)
31 5.97 0.5
50 5.94 1.0
71 5.88 2.0
91 5.76 4.0
200 0 100
a. Find the rate equation for cell growth
b. What should be the range of the flow rate to prevent washout of the cells?
Problem 25: Solution to (a)
Assuming Monod kinetics, rate equation for cell growth is given by:
!" %& '
= %" = "
!# () + '
To find µm and Ks, we need to plot 1/D vs 1/S
Dilution rate can be
,
found using + =
-.
From the plot, we get
%& = 0.3ℎ34 & () = 1.968/:
Therefore,
;< >. ?@
= <
;= A. BC + @
Problem 25: Solution to (b)
To prevent washout of the cells, the cell concentration at the outlet must be
maintained so that it is greater than zero. Therefore, we have
*& +
! = #%⁄& '( − >0
,- − +
01
Expressing D w.r.t residence time (t), we get ! = #%⁄& '( − >0
234 56
8 01 :&;
Solving the equation for t yields 7 = >
9 &; 34
>?@ AB
<< = @. FGH I/K
C? + ?@
Thank you
