Microbial Growth Kinetics

Rate

Stationary Phase

Decelerati
on Phase

Growth rate = Death

Rate

Exponent
ial Phase
Death
Phase

Lag
Phas

Time

In Exponential Phase
In a batch culture, growth in the log increasing phase is proportional to the mass of
the bacteria
x

dX/dt = X = rX &
ln [X/Xi] = t

or

dX / X =
xi

X = Xi e.t &

dt
0

= m S / [Ks + S]

&

tdouble = ln 2 /

Where:
x = concentration of microorganisms in dry mass weight/vol.
dX/dt = rg = rate of increase in X or the rate of bacterial growth
= specific growth rate, time-1 at initial concentration S.
m = max specific growth rate, time-1, if we plot against S , we can determine m
& Ks
S = concentration of substrate (growth limiting) in solution, mass/vol
Ks = saturating constant or half velocity constant [= concentration of substrate at
one half m , in (mas/vol)]
Mathustan Model:

rX = X =

dX/dt & X = Xi exp [ (t tlag)]

Logestic Model

:
rX = K X ( 1 X) = dX/dt &
Capacity Coeffecient & = 1/X
Xi (1 eKt)]
dX/dt = K X ( 1 X)

&

K: Carrying
X = X i eKt / [ 1 -

(1/X) (dX/dt) = K ( 1 X/ X ) &

(1/Xmean) ( X/ t) = K ( 1 Xmean/ X )

&

From the results between time period, consider it

and the two values of X , calculate Xmean for the duration

& From

(1/Xmean) ( X/ t) and (1 Xmean/X ) , we

calculate values of K for each duration

t ,

from which

the average values of K is determined

Or from plotting

ln (1/Xmean) ( X/ t)

against ln ( 1

Xmean/ X ) we obtain the intersect equals ln K & { ln

[(1/Xmean) ( X/ t)] = ln K +

Modified Monod Model : = m S / Ks + KsSo + S

increases , decreases.

Knocek Model

ln ( 1 Xmean/ X )}

, If substrate So

: d / d S = K (m - )P & When P = 1 , = m ( 1 e-KS)

When P

1 , (1-P) = (m - )1-P = ( 1 P ) KS &

When P

2 , = m S / [(m/K) + S ]

Growth
YX/S = (mass of cell formed) / (mass of substrate consumed) = r X
/rS = ( X / S )
x

dX/dt =

ln [X/Xi] =

dX / X

X &

t &

xi

tdouble = ln 2 /

dt
0

= [ln X2 ln X1] / [t2 t1]

&
= m S / [Ks + S]

&
CSTR
Fermenter

S o , Xo ,
Fo

S1 , X 1 ,
F1

S 1 , X1 ,
V
dm/dt = d( V ) / dt =

(Fo F1)

Substance balance: d(VS1)/dt = Fo So F1 S1 + rS V

Organism balance: d(VX1)/dt = F1 X1 Fo Xo + rX V
V : m3 &

: kg/m3 & F : m3 / s & S and X in kg / m3

Batch
Fermenter

S1 , X 1
At t=0 , we have X , S & V = const , F = 0
Substance balance: d(VS1)/dt = + rS V
Organism balance: d(VX1)/dt = + rX V
rS , rX are in the exponential phase and not in lag phase.
Chemostat
Fermenter

S o , Xo ,
F

S1 , X 1 ,
F

S 1 , X1 ,
V

Sterile Feed (Xo = 0 ) & F: is constant

dm/dt = d( V ) / dt =

(Fo F1)

[Substance balance: d(VS1)/dt = F ( So S1 ) + rS V ]

[Organism balance: d(VX1)/dt = F ( Xo X1 ) + rX V]
At steady state: d S1/ dt = 0 & d X1/ dt = 0 & (Sterile Feed Xo =0 )
Organism balance: d(VX1)/dt = 0 = F X1 + rX V
F X1 = rX V & D = dilution factor = F / V = r X / X1 = X1 / X1 =
.. (1)
D=F/V=

= 1/

: mean

residence time

Substance balance: d(VS1)/dt =0 = F ( So S1 ) + rS V

F ( So S1 ) = - rS V = - [rX / YX/S ] V & from (1) : [ F / V ] X1 = rX
F ( So S1 ) = - ([ F / V ] X1 / YX/S)V & X1 = ( So S1 ) YX/S
X1 = ( So
S1 ) YX/S
At Chemostat, the dilution rate D is controlled by feed flow rate to be
D = at steady state
Productivity = X1 = D X1

So
S1

D X1 =

0.25
0.75

1.00 [ D}

When F

,D

When D

0.50

, X1

, X1

0 &

S1

So : in this state

complete removal of cells from the tank Wash out.

When D m
[Ks + S] ,
i.e F
So

( caused by large value of KS

S1

D = = m S /

&

X1

YX/S

S1 = 0

D = m S / [Ks + S] & D[KS + S] = m S

S = D KS / [m D]

& S [m D] = D KS

X1 = ( So S1 ) YX/S = YX/S ( So D KS / [m D] )
X1 = YX/S ( So D KS / [m
D] )
If inhibition occurs : S = m S / [KS ( 1 + I/KI) + S]

Ideal Chemostat Balance

So , Xo , F,
Po

S1 , X1 , F,
P

S1 , X1 , V,
P
Overall

dV /dt = F o F

Cell balance: F X o F X + VR g X - VR Kd X = VR dX / dt
VR Kd X = - VR rX ]

[where : V R g X -

F = Flow rate of nutrient solution & V R = volume of solution in the

reactor{assumed constant]
g = specific growth rate.
& Kd = specific elimination rate (It consists of
kd: endogenous metabolism due to end of life & k ,d due to death to other factors
like substance finish and others)

By rearrangement and divide by VR and simplify F / VR = D dilution rate

(F/ VR )Xo (F X/ VR ) + g X - Kd X = dX / dt = D Xo D X + g X - Kd
X
dX / dt = D Xo [D + g - Kd ]X
In ideal chemostat:
1-Feed is sterile (Xo =0)
2- Endogenous death rate with respect to growth rate g

Kd

3- Steady state flow rate (dX / dt = 0 ) & g = D

4- Cells are removed in rate equals to growth rate = dilution rate (g =
Kd = D)
By applying Monod Model
g = D = m S /[KS + S]
If D is very greater than m , culture cannot
quickly enough to remain itself (wash out & Xo = X)
Substance balance:
- D]

D [KS + S]= m S & D KS = S [m - D] & S = D KS / [m

F So F S - rS VR = VR dS / dt = F So F S VR (gX / YX/S)
VR qp (X / YP/S)
Where: rS = rate of subs. consumption which is function of
cells growth and extracellular product formation
qP = specific rate of product formation = [1/X ] dP/dt
Y = maximum value of yield
If we consider steady state & neglect product formation:
VR dS / dt = 0 = F So F S VR (gX / YX/S)
[ F / VR ] So [ F / VR ] S = (gX / YX/S)
D (So S ) = (gX / YX/S)

&

X = YX/S (So S )

Yield Coefficient:
1 / YAPX/S

= 1 / YX/S

mS / D

Where YAPX/S = Apparent yield coefficient.

YX/S = maximum yield coefficient.
mS = maintenance coefficient based on substrate =
Kd / YX/S

If we plot 1 / YAPX/S
= YX/S and

against mS we obtain the intersect with Y-axis

slope = mS

1/
S=
1 / YX/S
1/

Another Trend for Chemostat

Air output

Feed Reservoir
Fout

X 1 , S1 ,

X 1 , S 1 , V1
Chemostat Reactor
Sterile Air

Buffer Solution
Product Vessel

Total Volume Balance : d V / d t = Fin - Fout

Total cell balance: d(XV)/dt = Fin Xi - Fout X1 + X V
-

( neglecting Death =

X)

Total substance balance: d(SV)/dt = Fin Si - Fout F1 - X V / YX/S

At steady state: V is constant ,

F in = Fout & d V/ dt = 0

d X / dt = F/V [Xin Xout ] + X1 = D [Xin X1 ] + X1

d S / dt = F/V [Sin Sout ] - X1 / YX/S = D [Sin S1 ] - X1 / YX/S
D = dilution factor = F / V = 1 /

: residence time)

Substance balance: d(VS1)/dt =0 = F ( So S1 ) + rS V

For Steady State: d X / dt = 0 = D [Xin X1 ] + X1
D Xin =
D X1 - X1 = X1 [D - ] Since input is sterile, Xi = 0
D= =
m S /[KS + S]
D[KS + S] = m S &
S [m -D] = D KS
S = D KS / [m -D] when m D ,
Xss

F ( So S1 ) = - rS V = - [rX / YX/S ] V & from (1) : [ F / V ] X1 = rX

F ( So S1 ) = - ([ F / V ] X1 / YX/S)V &
X1 = ( So S1 ) YX/S = YX/S ( So S1 ) = YX/S ( So D KS / [m -D])

Rate of microbial growth:

Kd (death rate)

net = [dX/dt] / X = g (growth rate)

Exponential phase: dX/dt = net X

[X/Xo] = net t

at X=Xo

at t=0

ln

At Stationary phase dX/dt = - Kd X , by integration ln [X / XSo] = Kd t

XSo = Cell conc. At beginning of stationary phase.
Kd = Endogenous first rate constant.

Fed Batch Fermenter

S o Fo

Outlet = 0 , Fo is variable
V will increase with

V1, S1, X1

dV / d t = Fo ,
Substance balance: - d(VS1)/dt = Fo So + rS V
Organism balance: - d(VX1)/dt = rX V

Bioreactor Modeling

S o , Xo ,
F

S1 , X 1 ,
F

S 1 , X1 ,
V1
Accumulation rate = Input rate - Output rate + Accumulation rate
Total Material Balance: d m / d t = d (

V)/dt=

( Fo F 1 )

Substance balance: - d(VS1)/dt = Fo So F1 S1 + rS V

Organism balance: - d(VX1)/dt = Fo Xo F1 X1 + rX V
kg/m3.s)

(rX in

For rate rX = X &

YX/S = mass of cell formed / mass of
substrate consumed = rX / rS
- rS = - rX / YX/S