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Bioprocess Engineering

Michael L Shuler

Chapter 16

Mixed Cultures - all with Video Answers

Educators


Chapter Questions

01:52

Problem 1

A batch fermenter receives 11 of medium with $5 \mathrm{~g} / \mathrm{l}$ of glucose, which is the growth-ratelimiting nutrient for a mixed population of two bacteria (a strain of E. coli and Azotobacter vinelandii). A. vinelandii is five times larger than $E$. coli. The replication rates for the two organisms are:
$$
\mu_{E C}=\frac{1.0 \mathrm{~h}^{-1} \mathrm{~s}}{0.01 \mathrm{~g} / \mathrm{l}+\mathrm{s}}-0.05 \mathrm{~h}^{-1}
$$
and
$$
\mu_{A V}=\frac{1.5 \mathrm{~h}^{-1} \mathrm{~s}}{0.02 \mathrm{~g} / \mathrm{l}+\mathrm{s}}-0.10 \mathrm{~h}^{-1}
$$
The yield coefficients are:
$$
\begin{aligned}
&Y_{E C}=0.5 \mathrm{~g} \mathrm{dw} / \mathrm{g} \text { glucose } \\
&Y_{A V}=0.35 \mathrm{~g} \mathrm{dw} / \mathrm{g} \text { glucose }
\end{aligned}
$$
The inoculum for the fermenter is $0.03 \mathrm{~g} \mathrm{dw} / \mathrm{l}$ of $E$. coli $\left(1 \times 10^{8} \mathrm{cells} / \mathrm{ml}\right)$ and $0.15 \mathrm{~g} \mathrm{dw} / \mathrm{l}$ of A. vinelandii $\left(1 \times 10^{8}\right.$ cells $\left./ \mathrm{ml}\right)$.
What will be the ratio of $A$. vinelandii to $E$. coli at the time when all of the glucose is consumed?

Carson Merrill
Carson Merrill
Numerade Educator
03:14

Problem 2

Consider Example 16.1, where we demonstrated that two bacteria competing for a single nutrient in a chemostat (well-mixed) could not coexist. Consider the situation where $B$ can adhere to a surface but $A$ cannot. Redo the balance equations, where $a$ is the surface area available per unit reactor volume and the rate of attachment is first order in $X_{B}$ with a rate constant $k_{a B}$. The sites available for attachment will be $\left(X_{B M}^{A t}-X_{B}^{A t}\right) a V$. The attached cells can detach with a first-order dependence on the attached cell concentration $\left(X_{B}^{A t}\right)$ with a rate constant of $k_{d B}$. Attached cells grow with the same kinetics as suspended cells.
a. Without mathematical proofs, do you think coexistence may be possible? Why or why not?
b. Consider the specific case below and solve the appropriate balance equations for $D=0.4 \mathrm{~h}^{-1}$ :
$$
\begin{aligned}
\mu_{m A} &=1.0 \mathrm{~h}^{-1} ; \quad \mu_{m B}=0.5 \mathrm{~h}^{-1} \\
K_{S A} &=K_{S B}=0.01 \mathrm{~g} / \mathrm{l} \\
Y_{A / S} &=Y_{B / S}=0.5 \mathrm{~g} / \mathrm{g} \\
S_{0} &=5 \mathrm{~g} / 1, \quad a=10 \mathrm{~cm}^{2} / \mathrm{cm}^{3} \\
X_{B M}^{A t} &=1 \times 10^{-4} \mathrm{~g} / \mathrm{cm}^{2} \\
k_{d B} &=0.5 \mathrm{~h}^{-1}, \quad k_{a B}=1000 \mathrm{~cm}^{3} / \mathrm{g}-\mathrm{h}
\end{aligned}
$$

Sana Riaz
Sana Riaz
Numerade Educator
01:26

Problem 3

Organism A grows on substrate $S$ and produces product $P$, which is the only substrate that organism $B$ can utilize. The batch kinetics are
$$
\begin{aligned}
\frac{d X_{A}}{d t} &=\frac{\mu_{A} S X_{A}}{K_{s}+S} \\
\frac{d X_{B}}{d t} &=\frac{\mu_{B} P X_{B}}{K_{p}+P} \\
\frac{d P}{d t} &=Y_{P / A} \frac{\mu_{A} S X_{A}}{K_{S}+S}-\frac{\mu_{B} P X_{B}}{Y_{X_{B} / P}\left(K_{P}+P\right)} \\
\frac{d S}{d t} &=-\frac{\mu_{A} S X_{A}}{Y_{X_{A} / S}\left(K_{S}+S\right)}-\frac{Y_{P / A}}{Y_{P / S}} \frac{\mu_{A} S X_{A}}{\left(K_{S}+S\right)}
\end{aligned}
$$
Assume the following parameter values:
$$
\begin{aligned}
\mu_{A} &=0.18 \mathrm{hr}^{-1}, & K_{s} &=0.42 \mathrm{~g} / \mathrm{l}, & \mu_{B} &=0.29 \mathrm{hr}^{-1} \\
K_{P} &=0.30 \mathrm{~g} / \mathrm{l}, & Y_{X_{A} / s} &=0.3 \mathrm{~g} / \mathrm{g}, & Y_{X_{B} / P} &=0.5 \mathrm{~g} / \mathrm{g} \\
Y_{P / S} &=1.0 \mathrm{~g} / \mathrm{g}, & Y_{P / A} &=4.0 \mathrm{~g} / \mathrm{g}, & S_{0} &=10 \mathrm{~g} / \mathrm{l}
\end{aligned}
$$
Determine the behavior of these two organisms in a chemostat. Plot $S, P, X_{A}$, and $X_{B}$ versus dilution rate. Discuss what happens to organism $B$ as the dilution rate approaches the washout dilution rate for organism $A$. (Courtesy of $\mathrm{L}$. Erickson, from "Collected Coursework Problems in Biochemical Engineering," compiled by H. W. Blanch for $1977 \mathrm{Am}$. Soc. Eng. Educ.

Dominador Tan
Dominador Tan
Numerade Educator
01:14

Problem 4

The $\mathrm{BOD}_{5}$ value of a waste-water feed stream to an activated-sludge unit is $S_{0}=300 \mathrm{mg} / \mathrm{l}$, and the effluent is desired to be $S=30 \mathrm{mg} / \mathrm{l}$. The feed flow rate is $F=2 \times 10^{7} 1 /$ day. For the recycle ratio of $\alpha=0.5$ and a steady-state biomass concentration of $X=5 \mathrm{~g} / \mathrm{l}$, calculate the following:
a. Required reactor volume $(V)$.
b. Biomass concentration in recycle $\left(X_{r}\right)$.
c. Solids (cells) residence time $\left(\theta_{c}\right)$.
d. Hydraulic residence time $\left(\theta_{H}\right)$.
e. Determine the daily oxygen requirement.
Use the following kinetic parameters:
$$
\begin{aligned}
\mu_{m} &=1.5 \mathrm{day}^{-1}, & K_{s} &=400 \mathrm{mg} / \mathrm{l} \\
Y_{X S}^{M} &=0.5 \mathrm{~g} \mathrm{dw} / \mathrm{g} \mathrm{BOD}, & k_{d} &=0.07 \mathrm{day}^{-1}
\end{aligned}
$$

Dominador Tan
Dominador Tan
Numerade Educator
04:21

Problem 5

For the activated-sludge unit shown in Fig. 16.7, the specific growth rate of cells is given by
$$
\mu_{\mathrm{net}}=\frac{\mu_{m} S}{K_{s}+S}-k_{d}
$$
The following parameter values are known: $F=5001 / \mathrm{h}, \alpha=0.4, \gamma=0.1, X_{e}=0, V=15001$, $K_{s}=10 \mathrm{mg} / \mathrm{l}, \mu_{m}=1 \mathrm{~h}^{-1}, k_{d}=0.05 \mathrm{~h}^{-1}, S_{0}=1000 \mathrm{mg} / \mathrm{l}, Y_{X / S}^{M}=0.5 \mathrm{~g} \mathrm{dw} / \mathrm{g}$ substrate.
a. Calculate the substrate concentration $(S)$ in the reactor at steady state.
b. Calculate the cell concentration(s) in the reactor.
c. Calculate $X_{r}$ and $S_{r}$ in the recycle stream.

Ren Jie Tuieng
Ren Jie Tuieng
Numerade Educator
02:10

Problem 6

In a trickling biological filter, the BOD value of the feed stream is $S_{0 i}=500 \mathrm{mg} / \mathrm{l}$ with a feed flow of $F=10^{3} \mathrm{l} / \mathrm{h}$. The effluent BOD value is desired to be $S_{0}=10 \mathrm{mg} / \mathrm{l}$. The following kinetic parameters for the biocatalysts are known: $r_{m}=20 \mathrm{mg} / \mathrm{S} / \mathrm{l} \cdot \mathrm{h}$ and $K_{s}=200 \mathrm{mg} \mathrm{S} / \mathrm{l}$. The biofilm thickness is $L=0.1 \mathrm{~mm}$. The cross-sectional area of the filter is $A=2 \mathrm{~m}^{2}$, and the biofilm surface area per unit volume of the bed is $a=500 \mathrm{~cm}^{2} / \mathrm{cm}^{3}$. Assume that dissolved oxygen is the rate-limiting substrate and the diffusion coefficient of oxygen is $D_{\mathrm{O}_{2}}=2 \times 10^{-5} \mathrm{~cm}^{2} / \mathrm{s}$. Determine the required height of the bed. You can assume first-order bioreaction kinetics.

Narayan Hari
Narayan Hari
Numerade Educator
01:14

Problem 7

An activated-sludge waste treatment system is required to reduce the amount of $\mathrm{BOD}_{5}$ from $1000 \mathrm{mg} / 1$ to $20 \mathrm{mg} / \mathrm{l}$ at the exit. The sedimentation unit concentrates biomass by a factor of 3. Kinetic parameters are $\mu_{m}=0.2 \mathrm{~h}^{-1}, K_{s}=80 \mathrm{mg} / \mathrm{l}, k_{d}=0.01 \mathrm{~h}^{-1}$, and $Y_{X S}^{M}=0.5 \mathrm{~g} \mathrm{MLVSS} / \mathrm{g}$ $\mathrm{BOD}_{5}$. The flow of waste water is $10000 \mathrm{l} / \mathrm{h}$ and the size of the treatment basin is 50,0001 .
a. What is the value of the solids residence time (i.e., $\theta_{c}$ )?
b. What value of the recycle ratio must be used?

Dominador Tan
Dominador Tan
Numerade Educator
01:14

Problem 8

Consider a well-mixed waste treatment system for a small-scale system. The system is operated with a reactor of $1000 \mathrm{l}$ and flow rate of $100 \mathrm{l} / \mathrm{h}$. The separator concentrates biomass by a factor of $2 .$ The recycle ratio is $0.7 .$ The kinetic parameters are $\mu_{m}=0.5 \mathrm{~h}^{-1}, K_{s}=0.2 \mathrm{~g} / \mathrm{l}$, $Y_{X / S}^{M}=0.5 \mathrm{~g} / \mathrm{g}$, and $k_{d}=0.05 \mathrm{~h}^{-1}$. What is the exit substrate concentration?

Dominador Tan
Dominador Tan
Numerade Educator
03:35

Problem 9

Redo Example $16.4$ if the Contois equation for growth applies. In this case
$$
\mu_{\mathrm{net}}=\frac{\mu_{m} S}{K_{s x} X+S}-k_{d}
$$
The values of $\mu_{m}$ and $k_{d}$ are the same as for Example $16.4$, but $K_{s}$ no longer applies. Assume $K_{s x}=0.02 \mathrm{~g} \mathrm{BOD}_{5} / \mathrm{g}$ MLVSS $.$

Mohamed Raafat Mohamed
Mohamed Raafat Mohamed
Numerade Educator