Modeling photoheterotrophic growth kinetics of Rhodospirillum rubrum in rectangular photobioreactors

• Published in: Biotechnology progress Vol. 16; no. 2; pp. 199 - 207
• Main Authors: CORNET, J.-F, ALBIOL, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 07.04.2000; New York, NY American Institute of Chemical Engineers
• Subjects: Bacteria; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Computational methods; Electron transitions; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Growth kinetics; Light absorption; Light scattering; Mathematical models; Metabolism; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; Microbial engineering. Fermentation and microbial culture technology; Photochemical reactions; Rhodospirillum rubrum; Light effect; Microorganism growth; Rhodospirillaceae; Modeling; Rhodospirillales; Rectangular configuration; Rhodospirillum rubrum; Photobioreactor; Microorganism culture; Bacteria; Kinetics; Mathematical model; Rhodospirillineae
• ISSN: 8756-7938; 1520-6033
• DOI: 10.1021/bp990148q

Based on a previously established model for radiant light transfer in photobioreactors (PBR), taking into account absorption and scattering of light, a new knowledge model for coupling radiant light energy available and local growth kinetics in PBRs for the photoheterotrophic bacteria Rhodospirillum rubrum is discussed. A revised method is presented for the calculation of the absorption and scattering coefficients. The specific characteristics of the electron-transfer chains in such microorganisms leads to definition of three different metabolic zones in the PBR, explaining the behavior of mean kinetics observed in a wide range of incident light fluxes. The model is validated in rectangular PBRs for five different carbon sources and proved robust and fully predictive. This approach can be considered for simulation and model-based predictive control of PBRs cultivating photoheterotrophic microorganisms.