Microbial Growth: Substrate Utilization and Chemostat Operation

This lecture covers the influence of the environment on microbial growth, including the limitation by multiple nutrients, growth of cell number, and biomass recirculation effects. It explains the growth of biomass in continuous and closed systems, use of multiple substrates simultaneously, and the specific speed of biomass production. The Monod equation for substrate consumption rate and the determination of maximum biomass production speed are discussed. The lecture also delves into the efficiency of biomass formation with respect to substrate consumption, chemostat operation, and the parameters affecting biomass and substrate concentrations. Various aspects of chemostat operation, including biomass and substrate concentrations, productivity, and the determination of cell numbers, are explored.