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

Problem 18
A strain of mold was grown in a batch culture on glucose and the following data
were obtained.

Time (h) Cell Concentration (g/L) Glucose Concentration (g/L)

0 1.25 100
9 2.45 97
16 5.1 90.4
23 10.5 76.4
30 22 48.1
34 33 20.6
36 37.5 9.38
40 41 0.625

a. Calculate the maximum net specific growth rate.

b. Calculate the apparent growth yield.
c. What maximum cell concentration could one expect if 150 g of glucose
were used with the same size inoculum??
Problem 18: Solution
a. A plot of ln(X/X0) vs t gives slope = 0.092 h-1

!"#$ = 0.092 ℎ+,

∆/ 1,+,.23 7 8#99:
b. - = = = 0.4
∆0 4.523+,44 7 :;<:$=>$#

7 8#99:
c. ?@>A = ?4 + -C4 = 61.25 G
Problem 19
A simple, batch fermentation of an aerobic bacterium growing on methanol
gave the results shown in the table. Calculate
Time (h) Cell Concentration (g/L) Methanol Concentration (g/L)
0 0.2 9.23
2 0.211 9.21
4 0.305 9.07
8 0.98 8.03
10 1.77 6.8
12 3.2 4.6
14 5.6 0.92
16 6.15 0.077
18 6.2 0

a. Maximum growth rate (µmax).

b. Yield on substrate (YX/S)
c. Mass doubling time (td)
d. Saturation constant (Ks)
e. Specific growth rate (µnet) at t = 10 h
Problem 19: Solution
a. To find µmax, find the slope of the linear range of logX vs t

!"#$ = 0.292 ℎ+,

1.2+3.2 8 9:;;<
b. -/⁄0 = = 0.65
4.25+3 8 <=><?@#?:

;C2
c. AB = = 2.34 ℎ
D
Problem 19: Solution to 18d
$% &
Ks can be found by using Monod kinetics i.e., !" =
'( ) &
at [S] = 0, !" =0&
b/w 4 h to 14 h, growth rate is constant & !" = !+ = 0.292 ℎ01
Plotting µ vs S between S = 0 & 10 g/L, we get

$%
Ks = S at !" =
2

So, Ks = 0.46 g/L

!+
!" =
2
e. At t = 10 h,

!" = !+ = 0.292 ℎ01

Ks
Problem 20
A biochemical engineer has determined in her lab that the optimal productivity
of a valuable antibiotic is achieved when the carbon nutrient, in this case
molasses, is metered into the fermenter at a rate proportional to the growth
rate. However, she cannot implement her discovery in the antibiotic plant,
since there is no reliable way to measure the growth rate (dX/dt) or biomass
concentration (X) during the course of the fermentation. It is suggested that an
oxygen analyzer be installed on the plant fermenters so that the OUR, g/L.h
may be measured.
a. Derive expressions that may be used to estimate X and dx/dt from OUR &
time data, assuming that a simple yield & maintenance model may be used
to describe the rate of oxygen consumption by the culture.
b. Calculate values of yield (!#⁄$% ) and maintenance (&$% ) parameters from
the following data:
X (g/L)

11.40
12.22
13.00
13.37
14.47
15.37
16.12
16.18
16.67
17.01
0.60
0.63
0.63
0.76
1.06
1.56
2.23
2.85
4.15
5.37
7.59
9.40
OUR (g/h)
0.011
0.008
0.084
0.153
0.198
0.273
0.393
0.493
0.642
0.915
1.031
1.12
1.37
1.58
1.26
1.58
1.26
1.12
1.20
0.99
0.86
0.90
Time

10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Problem 20: Solution to (a)
%&
!"# = + -*+ &
')⁄*+
O2 used O2 used for maintenance
for growth

. /) . /)
%= substituting we get !"# = 1 /0
+ -*+ &
) /0 2 ⁄3+

/)
To estimate : In the exponential growth phase, O2 consumption for growth
/0
dominates

. /)
therefore, !"# =1
2 ⁄3+ /0

To estimate &: During stationary phase, cells aren’t growing and O2 is needed
for maintenance energy only therefore, !"# = -*+ &
Problem 20: Solution to (b)
Time OUR (g/h) X (g/L) Plot logX vs. t
0 0.011 0.60
1 0.008 0.63
Exponential growth between t = 3 h & t = 10 h
2 0.084 0.63
3 0.153 0.76
4 0.198 1.06 !" = 0.326 ℎ*+
5 0.273 1.56
6 0.393 2.23
7 0.493 2.85
8 0.642 4.15
9 0.915 5.37
10 1.031 7.59
11 1.12 9.40
12 1.37 11.40
y = 0.2954e0.3262x
13 1.58 12.22
14 1.26 13.00
15 1.58 13.37
16 1.26 14.47
17 1.12 15.37
18 1.20 16.12
19 0.99 16.18
20 0.86 16.67 /0
In this range ,-. = so plot OUR vs. X
21 0.90 17.01 13⁄45
Problem 20: Solution to (b)
In this linear range,

'
!"#$% =
(*⁄+,
2 34
= 0.159
2 56 7%""8. ℎ

2 56 7%""8
(*⁄+, = 2.14
2 34

During stationary phase, t = 18 h to t = 21 h, we have 3<= = >+, ?

OUR (g/L.h) X (g/L) OPQ (STU )

1.20 16.12 0.0744 G +,

0.99 16.18 0.0612
Average >+, = 0.06 G HI JKLLM.N
0.86 16.67 0.0516
0.90 17.01 0.0529
Problem 21
Plot the response of a culture to diauxic growth on glucose & lactose based on
the following:

!"#$%&'( = 1.0 ℎ./

!#0%1&'( = 0.6 ℎ./

3"#$%&'( = 3#0%1&'( = 0.5

Enzyme induction requires 30 min to complete. Plot cell mass, glucose, and
lactose concentrations, assuming initial values of 2 g/L glucose, 3 g/L lactose
and 0.10 g/L cells.

Use time (h) for plotting: 0, 1, 2, 2.3, 2.8, 3.0, 4, 4.3

Problem 21
Given: t (h) X (g/L) Sg (g/L) Sl (g/L)
X0 = 0.10 g/L
0 0.10 2 3
µglucose = 1.0 h-1
1 0.27 1.66 3
µlactose = 0.6 h-1
2 0.74 0.72 3
Sg0 = 2 g/L
2.3 1.0 0 3
Sl0 = 3 g/L
2.8 1.0 0 3
3.0 1.13 0 2.74
Calculate X, Sg and Sl as follows:
3.5 1.52 0 1.96
4.0 2.05 0 0.9
)*)+
! = !# $ %& and ' = '# − 4.3 2.5 0 0
,.⁄/

For example, at 0 = 1 h, ! = !# $ %& = 0.1$ 4×4 = 0.27 g/L

After 2.3 h, Sg becomes zero and hence, the cell switches over to lactose and
it takes 30 min to switch over to lactose from glucose and hence, X remains
unchanged. Also, during the glucose phase, the concentration of lactose
remains unchanged at 3 g/L.

)*)+
To calculate Sg, for example, at 0 = 1 h, ' = '# − = 1.66 g/L
,.⁄/
Problem 21
For lactose, calculate X and Sl as follows:

For example, at ! = 3 h, actually ! = 0.2 h, ' = '( ) *+ = 1.0) (.-×(./ = 1.13 g/L

2324
To calculate Sg, for example, at ! = 3 h, 0 = 0( − = 2.74 g/L
57⁄8

Then plot X vs t and S vs t.

t (h) X (g/L) Sg (g/L) Sl (g/L)

0 0.10 2 3
1 0.27 1.66 3
2 0.74 0.72 3
2.3 1.0 0 3
2.8 1.0 0 3
3.0 1.13 0 2.74
3.5 1.52 0 1.96
4.0 2.05 0 0.9
4.3 2.5 0 0
Thank you