Models for the continuous culture of microorganisms under both oxygen and carbon limiting conditions

Abstract

Abstract Two models for predicting the behavior of cultures of microorganisms under both oxygen and carbon limiting conditions have been evlauated on a chemostat growing Candida utilis on a glycolysis suppressing glycerol medium. The work indicated that parameter values obtained under wholly oxygen limiting or wholly carbon limiting conditions successfully predict the behavior of the chemostat under the wide range of flow and substrate concentration conditions tested. Both models are satisfactory and hence it is deduced that the simpler one may be used with confidence. It was found that Monod kinetics were applicable to the growth rate dependence on oxygen concentration but that Contois kinetics were superior for the corresponding dependence on carbon substrate concentration.