Carbon Balance on a Continuous Bioreactor

Abstract

<p> Using soluble organic carbon in the form of dextrose as a growth limiting substrate, and pure cultures of Escherichia coli, the carbon-containing products of a completely mixed, environmentally controlled, continuous bioreactor were quantitatively analyzed in order to determine if accurate carbon balances are obtainable for a wide spectrum of bacterial growth rates, and if gaseous carbon production exhibits a correlation with bacterial growth rate. </p> <p> The techniques of experimentation and analysis were developed and refined during the course of the study. Errors were accumulated in the carbon balances, these being considered due to inaccuracies in sampling of the gaseous reactor effluent. Assessment of error significance was made statistically. Soluble and cellular carbon analyses were accurately completed. A limited correlation of gaseous carbon production rate with growth rate was demonstrated. </p>