01

[Problem] In cultivation of bakers yeast in a stirred and aerated tank, lethal agents
are added to the fermentation medium to kill the organisms immediately. Increase in
dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration upon addition of lethal agents is followed with a
DO analyzer and a recorder. Using the following data, determine the oxygen
transfer coefficient (kLa) for the fermentor. Saturation DO concentration is 9 mg/L.
Time (min)

2.5

DO (mg/L)

6.5

7.2

Solution:

dC L
k L a (C * C L )
dt

d (C * C L )
k L adt
(C * C L )

ln(C * C L ) k L at Constant

Plot ln(C * C L ) versus t, slope = kLa.

Time (min)

ln(C * C L )
2.1
1.8
1.6
1.4
0.92
0.59

DO (mg/L)

1
2
2.5
3
4
5
*
* C = 9 mg/L

1
3
4
5
6.5
7.2

2.4
2.2
2.0

ln(C* CL)

1.8
1.6

The oxygen
transfer
coefficient (kLa)
for the
fermentor is
0.39 min1.

1.4
1.2

Slope k La
0.39 min 1

1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0

Time (min)

02
[Problem] A batch fermentation is conducted at 30C. Experiments
with sodium sulfite oxidation indicate that kLa = 438 h1. The solubility
of oxygen from air in the fermentation broth is 7.3 mg/L. The culture
has a doubling time, in exponential growth, of 30 min, and oxygen yield
coefficient YX/O of 0.6 g cells/g O2.
2

(a) At what biomass level is CL predicted to become zero?

(b) In reality, CL does not become zero.
CL, which follows the Monod form:
max

Rather, becomes a function of

CL
K O2 CL

Taking K O = 0.05 mmol/L, estimate the cell concentration when CL

becomes 5% saturation.
2

Solution:
2X 0
X
dX
t , ln
t d
X , ln
X0
dt
X0
ln 2 0.693

1.386 h 1 max
0.5 h
td

(a)

Material balance on dissolved oxygen: k L a (C * C L )

When CL = 0, X

YX/O 2

k L aC*

1
YX/O 2

0 .6
( 438)(7.3 10 3 ) 1.4 g/L
1.386

(b) Material balance on dissolved oxygen:

k L a ( C * C L )

X
YX/O 2

max

CL
K O2 CL

438 [(7.3 7.3 0.05) 10 3 ]

7.3 0.05
X
(1.386)
0.6
(0.05 32) (7.3 0.05)

X = 7.1 g/L
#

03
[Problem] Escherichia coli has a maximum respiration rate, qO ,max , of
about 240 mg O2/g cell-h. It is desired to achieve a cell mass of 20 g
cell/L. The kLa is 120 h1 in a 1000-L fermentor (800 L working
volume). A gas stream enriched in oxygen is used (i.e., 80% O2) which
gives a value of C* = 28 mg/L. If oxygen becomes limiting, growth and
respiration slow according to:
2

qO 2

qO 2 , max C L
0.2 mg/L C L

where CL is the dissolved oxygen concentration in the fermentor. What

is CL when the cell mass is at 20 g/L?
Solution:
Oxygen transfer rate = oxygen uptake rate

k L a ( C * C L ) qO 2 X

qO 2 , max C L X
0.2 C L

120( 28 C L )

(3360 120C L )(0.2 C L ) 4800C L

240 C L 20
0.2 C L

672 3360C L 24C L 120C 4800C L

2
L

120C L2 1464C L 672 0

1464 (1464) 2 4 120 672 1464 1570

CL
2 120
240

CL = 0.44 mg/L
When the cell mass is at 20 g/L, CL is 0.44 mg/L.
#

04
[Problem] A cylindrical tank (1.22-m diameter) is filled with water to
an operating level equal to the tank diameter. The tank is agitated with a
0.36-m diameter, flat six-blade disk turbine, which has a power number
of 6. The impeller rotational speed is 150 rpm. The air enters through
an open-ended tube situated below the impeller and its volumetric flow
rate is 0.0217 m3/s at 1.08 atm and 25C. Estimate the power
requirement and kLa. Water has a density of 997 kg/m3 and a viscosity
of 8.9 104 kg/m-s at 25C. Use the following correlation equations
to estimate the desired data.
D
192 i
log10
P0
Dt
Pg

4.38

NDi2

0.115

1.96 Di / Dt

Di N 2

3
NDi

0.7

P
kLa = 0.002 g (vs )0.2
VL

Solution:
N=

150
= 2.5 rev/s
60

Re

NDi2 (997 )(2.5)(0.36) 2

3.6 10 5
4

8.9 10

Power number Np = 6 =
D
192 i
log10
P0
Dt
Pg

4.38

P0

N D
3

NDi2

0.36
= 192

1.22

4.38

5
i

0.115

P0
(997)(2.5) 3 (0.36) 5
1.96 Di / Dt

Di N 2

P0 = 565 W

3
NDi

(0.36)(2.5) 2
(3.6 10 5 ) 0.115

9.8

1.960.36
1.22

0.0217
=

3
(2.5)(0.36)

0.317

0.7

Pg
P0

0.482

P
kLa = 0.002 g (vs )0.2
VL

Pg = 0.482(565) = 272 W

272
= 0.002

(1.22) 2 (1.22)
4

(where kLa in s1,

Pg
VL

0.7

0.0217

(1.22) 2
4

in W/m3, vs in m/s)

0.2

= 0.0356 s1

10401 Advanced Chemical Engineering: Part III Homework 2

(2016/1/5 submit)

[Q1] Candida utilis grows aerobically on ethanol, with no other products apart from
cell mass and CO2 produced. The observed yield coefficients YX/S,obs (that is, the
yield coefficient not taking account of maintenance), at various specific growth rates
were found as the follows:

(h1)

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

YX/S,obs (g cell/g ethanol)

0.48

0.54

0.56

0.57

0.57

0.58

Find the true yield coefficient YX/S and the maintenance coefficient m.
Solution:

Material balance on substrate:

Plot

1
YX/S,obs

dS
1 dX

mX
dt YX/S dt

1 dS
1 1 dX

1 dS dt
1
m
m

X
X dt YX/S X dt
YX/S
X dt dX YX/S
dS
1
1
m

dX YX/S,obs YX/S

versus

1/

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

20

10

6.7

3.3

YX/S,obs
1/YX/S,obs

0.48
2.1

0.54
1.9

0.56
1.8

0.57
1.8

0.57
1.8

0.58
1.7

2.2

Slope = m

1/YX/S,obs (g ethanol/g cell)

2.1

=0.0215 g ethanol/g cell-h

2.0

Intercept =

1.9
1.8

1
= 1.675
YX/S

or

1.7

YX/S = 0.60 g cell/g ethanol

1.6
0

10

15

20

25

1/ (h)

[Q2] Escherichia coli is cultivated on glycerol at a specific growth rate of 0.1 h1.
The cell yield coefficient is 0.45 g cell/g glycerol, and the final cell concentration is 60
g/L. The heats of combustion of glycerol and the cell are 18 and 20 kJ/g,
respectively. Estimate the maximal rate of heat evolution per liter of broth.
Solution:
HS =

18 =

1
YX/H

YX/S + HX YX/S

YX/H

0.45 + 20 0.45

1
YX/H

= 20 kJ/g cell

The maximal rate of heat evolution per liter of broth = X(1/YX/H)

= (0.1)(60)(20) = 120 kJ/L-h

[Q3] The following data was obtained for Saccharomyces cerevisae on limiting
glucose at three dilution rates, where the feed concentration of glucose was 17.4 g/L.
Dilution rate
(h1)
0.15
0.22
0.28

Cell dry weight

(g/L)

Glucose
(g/L)

Ethanol
(g/L)

8.1
6.2
4.2

0.03
0.03
0.20

3.55
4.95
5.30

If cell growth follows the Monod model, estimate max and KS.
Solution:
Monod model: D max
KS does not vary with dilution rate.
KS

S
KS S

KS

S ( max D)
D

The data of D = 0.22 and 0.28 h1 result in:

0.03( max 0.22) 0.2( max 0.28)

0.22
0.28
KS

max = 0.294 h1

S ( max D) 0.03(0.294 0.22)

0.01 g/L
D
0.22

[Q4] Suppose you have a microorganism that obeys the Monod equation with max =
0.7 h1 and KS = 5 g/L. The cell yield YX/S is 0.65 g cell/g substrate. You want to
cultivate this microorganism with chemostat. The substrate concentration of the inlet
stream is 85 g/L, and the outlet concentration must be 5 g/L. What flow rates should
be if you use: (a) one 1,000 L-fermentor; (b) two 1,000 L-fermentors in series; and (c)
one 2,000 L-fermentor?
Solution:

(a) Use one 1,000 L-fermentor

S 0.7 5
max
0.35 h 1
KS S
55

F DV V 0.35 1000 350 L/h

(b) Use two 1,000 L-fermentors in series

D1

F
F

D2 D
V1 1,000

In the first fermentor,

X 1 YX/S ( S 0 S1 ) 0.65 (85 S1 )

max S1

K S S1

0.7 S1
5 S1

In the second fermentor,

2
X2

D2

KS S2

0.7 5
0.35 h 1
55

X1
X1
0.35 D 1
D
1.86( S1 5)
1.86 D( S1 5)

0.35

0.7 S1 0.65 (85 S1 )

5 S1
1.86( S1 5)

0.65(S1 5)(S1 5) 1.3S1 (S1 5) 0.65(S1 85)(S1 5)

0.65S12 16.3 1.3S12 6.5S1 0.65S12 52S1 276

1.3S12 58.5S1 260 0

D

D
0.65 ( S1 5) 1.86 D( S1 5)
0.35

YX/S ( S1 S 2 )

2 D1 1
X2

max S 2

S1

0.7 S1 0.7 51.6

0.64 h 1
5 S1
5 51.6

(c) Use one 2,000 L-fermentor

S 0.7 5
max
0.35 h 1
KS S
55

65 3422 1352
51.6 g/L
2 1.3

F D 1,000 640 L/h

F DV V 0.35 2000 700 L/h

#