Microbial Growth: Definitions and Relations

X = Biomass Concentration, mg/L

S = Substrate Concentration, mg/L
dS
= Substrate Utilization Rate, mg/L/d
dt

dX
dt

dS
dt / X q = Specific Substrate Utilization Rate, /d

YT = Yield Coefficient, mg X produced (gross) / mg S consumed

dX
dt

dX
dt

dX
dt

dX
dt

dX
dt

= Gross Biomass Growth Rate, mg/L/d

= Net Biomass Growth Rate, mg/L/d

/X

dX

dt

dS
YT .
dt

dX

dt

dX
dt

dX
dt

dX
dS
/ X YT .
/X

dt
dt

/X
E

YT .q k d

= Specific Net Biomass Growth Rate, /d

Monods Kinetics

= Biomass Decay Rate, mg/L/d

qmax
/X
kd
= Specific
Biomass Decay Rate, /d

When S is large (S >> Ks), q = qmax and hence, = max

q, /d
(1/2).qmax

When S is small (S << Ks), q = [qmax/Ks].S

When = 0, q = kd/YT

Ks
S, mg/L

When q < kd/YT, < 0

q max .S
Ks S

Microbial Kinetics in a Reactor

Microbial Kinetic Constants

O2

q max = 4 /d
Q, So, Xo

Q, S, X
Volume = V;

Ks = 25 mg/L

S, X

Kd = 0.05 /d

Completely Mixed Reactor

Hydraulic Retention Time () = V/Q

YT .q k d

Example Problem

q max .S
Ks S

Q = 1 MLD;

YT = 0.50

V = 1000 m3;

V/Q = 1 day; = 1/ = 1 / d

Substrate Mass Balance:

k d 1 0.05

2.1 /d
YT
0.5

(S S)
Q. o
q.X
V

q.K s
(2.1).(25)

27.63 mg/L
(q max q) ( 4 2.1)

Biomass Mass Balance:

(So S) (300 27.63)

129.7 mg/L
.q
1.(2.1)

dS
.V
dt

Q.So Q.S

dX
Q.X o
.V Q.X
dt G
.X.V Q.X
Q / V 1/

So = 300 mg/L

Microbial Kinetics in a Reactor with Recycle

(Q-Qw), Xe, S, Ce
(1+R).Q

Q, So, Xo, Co
Volume = V;
S, X, C

S, X, C

(RQ+ Qw), Xr, S, Cr

RQ, Xr, S, Cr

Qw, Xr, S, Cr
Substrate Balance for the whole system:

Biomass Balance for Aeration Tank:

Q.So [(Q - Qw).S + Qw.S] = [dS/dt].V

R.Q.Xr + [dX/dt]g.V = (1 + R).Q.X

Q.(So S)/V = q.X

R.Q.Xr + .X.V = (1 + R).Q.X

(A)

.V = Q.[1+ R R(Xr/X)]

Biomass Balance for the whole System:

[dX/dt]g.V = Qw.Xr
.X.V = Qw.Xr

Other Relationships:
(B)

YT .q k d

q max .S
Ks S

(D)
(E)

(C)

Microbial Kinetics in a Reactor with Recycle

(Q-Qw), Xe, S
Q, So, Xo

(1+R).Q, S, X
Volume = V;
S, X

(RQ+ Qw), Xr, S

RQ, Xr, S

Qw, Xr, S

Hydraulic Retention Time ():

Amount of Water in the Aeration Tank

Net Rate of Withdrawa l of Water from Aeration Tank

V
V

[(1 R )Q RQ] Q

Biological Solids Retention Tine ( c):

Amount of Biomass in the Aeration Tank

X.V

Net Rate of Withdrawa l of Biomass from Aeration Tank

(1 R ).Q.X R.Q.X r

Please Note,
(1 R ).Q.X R.Q.X r Q w .X r

X.V
1

Q w .X r