ChE 3BK3: Bio-Reaction Engineering
Assignment #8
Due: November 8, 2023
You are designing a batch fermentation to produce lactic acid, which is produced in a mixed-
growth associated manner according to qp = 0.5h-1 + 0.3 μg. You have found that product
expression only begins once the growth rate becomes substrate-limited and stops at S < 2 g/L.
The organism obeys Blackman growth kinetics, with μm = 0.5 h-1 and Ks = 15g/L. The most
efficient product expression happens once cell concentrations hit 95 g/L.
a) If the yield coefficient (YX/S) is 0.5 g/g and the initial cell concentration is 3 g/L, how
much substrate do you need to achieve the ideal cell concentration at the start of product
expression? How long will that take?
b) How long will product expression continue?
c) Approximately what product concentration would you expect at the end of that time?
(Hint: to answer this question, you should technically get an expression for cell
concentration as a function of time, then integrate the product rate expression with
respect to time, but this is ugly. Instead, calculate the product formation rates at the start
and the end of product formation and use the average of the two for your estimate.)
d) When would you have the maximum rate of heat removal? If YX/O2 = 0.75 g/g, what
would that heat removal requirement be?
e) During what type of growth would it more appropriate to represent a system with the
Monod equation?
f) What is the biggest challenge associated with using the Blackman equation?
Hint: you will need (at least) information from sections 6.1.2, 6.1.4 and 6.2.1.1 of the textbook.
All required concepts were also covered in lecture.
Notes:
• All assignments must be submitted in pdf format to the Avenue dropbox by 11:59 pm
on the specified due date
• Late assignments will be docked 20% per day each day that passes after the due date
• Assignments may be hand-written, but must be clearly legible
• Use Camscanner or similar software to put it into pdf format
• We will use Turnitin
University Policy on Academic Dishonesty: Academic dishonesty consists of
misrepresentation by deception or by other fraudulent means and can result in serious
consequences, e.g. the grade of zero on an assignment, loss of credit with a notation on the
transcript notation that reads: “Grade of F assigned for academic dishonesty”, and/or
suspension or expulsion from the university.
It is your responsibility to understand what constitutes academic dishonesty. For information
on the various kinds of academic dishonesty please refer to the Academic Integrity Policy,
specifically Appendix 3, located at:
https://secretariat.mcmaster.ca/app/uploads/Academic-Integrity-Policy-1-1.pdf
The following illustrates only three forms of academic dishonesty:
1. Copying or using unauthorized aids on tests and examinations.
2. Plagiarism, e.g. the submission of work that is not one’s own or for which other credit
has been obtained.
3. Improper collaboration in group work.
