Title: Energetic analysis of Pseudomonas fluorescens growth in aerobic chemostat culture

Authors: Samuel E. Agarry, Bamidele O. Solomon

Addresses: Biochemical Engineering Research Unit, Department of Chemical Engineering, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria. ' Biochemical Engineering Research Unit, Department of Chemical Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife, Nigeria

Abstract: Bioenergetic analysis of the growth of Pseudomonas fluorescens on phenol chemostat culture was carried out. The data were checked for consistency using carbon and available electron balances. Similar estimates were obtained using Pirt|s model based on Monod approach and a modified model based on substrate consumption rate being rate limiting. Coupled with the covariate adjustment estimation technique, the best estimates were the Maximum Likelihood Estimates (MLE) based on the complete data. For the aerobic growth of P. fluorescens growth on phenol, η_max = 0.262 and m_e = −0.017/h. From the 95% confidence intervals, a maximum of about 25–27% of the energy contained in phenol is incorporated into the P. fluorescens biomass. The balance (73–75%) is evolved as heat with little or no energy needed for the maintenance of the respective organisms.

Keywords: Pseudomonas fluorescens; energy analysis; chemostat culture; biomass energy yield; maintenance coefficient; Pirt|s model; bioremediation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2010.035923

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2010 Vol.43 No.1/2/3, pp.190 - 200

Published online: 09 Oct 2010 *

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