A Continuous Biochemical Reactor Study Using Mixed Microbial Cultures

Abstract

<p>A completely-mixed biochemical reactor was used to study a mixed microbial culture using soluble organic carbon in the form of glucose as a growth limiting nutrient. The effect of various flow rates and feed concentrations was determined by evaluating the corresponding variations in unit organism growth rate, yield and effluent carbon concentration.</p> <p>The effluent carbon concentration was independent of flow rate and feed concentrations for the range studied. The unit growth rate was similarly independent of the feed concentration but varied directly as the flow rate. No trend indicated that yield varied with either flow rate or feed concentration. Large variations in yield often occurred at any one condition due to changes in the mixed microbial population. However, the reason for this microbial variation was not determined.</p>