A microorganism is capable of utilizing glucose, methanol, and hexadecane as the carbon source. Its average cell composition (by weight) was analyzed to be 47% carbon, 6.5% hydrogen, 31% oxygen, 10% nitrogen, and the remainder ash. Dur- ing cultivation, this microorganism converts the substrates O2 and ammonia into cells, carbon dioxide, and water. A batch culture was carried out to estimate th Table P.3.1 Gas composition exiting from a bioreactor
Substrate %Nitrogen %Carbon dioxide %Oxygen
Glucose 78.8 10.2 11.0
Hexadecane 85.6 9.0 5.4
Methanol 85.3 8.5 6.1
a) Write down the stoichiometric reaction equation for each substrate.
b) What are the estimated cell yields, based on the substrates and oxygen, for each of the three substrates? What are the RQ's? (RQ is respiratory quotient- mole carbon dioxide produced/mole of oxygen consumed.) Engineering Principles in Biotechnology
c) For a bacterium with 8% of its dry mass as nitrogen, what is the yield coefficient for NH3?