Consider a batch culture of bacteria with empirical biomass formula
CH 1.6 O 0.55 N 0.20 (MWB = 25.2 g/mole).
The bioreactor is a closed, rigid vessel into which liquid medium containing 10 mmol glucose (C6H12O6) and an excess of ammonium sulfate is added. The headspace contained humidified air initially. After some time, during which a net growth of 0.3 g dry cell weight was achieved, the headspace gas was analyzed. After accounting for the appropriate liquid concentration of O2 in equilibrium with the headspace, it was found that a total of 15 mmol O2 was consumed.
This organism secretes no appreciable amounts of product under these conditions.
a. Estimate the yield coefficient of substrate, Y X/S (g DCW/mole glucose) and the final amount of glucose in the medium (mmol).
b. Estimate how much CO2 was produced (mmol).