Date: 4/1/2021

BIOPROCESS MODULE-BT1010 (JAN-MAY 2020)

TAKE HOME EXAM
Attempt all Questions
Answer sheet submission: files as .doc./.docx/.pdf only and the file should be named as:
“Bioprocess-your roll no.”
Submissions to be uploaded on Moodle before 10:00 am on 6/1/2021
Total Marks: 25

1. Methylomonas methanica is used to produce single-cell protein from methanol using

a 1000 m3 bioreactor. The biomass yield from substrate is 0.42 g/g and specific
growth rate (μ) is 0.45 h-1. The medium contains 50 g/L methanol and a substrate
conversion of 99% is desirable in the process. For batch mode of operation, the
initial cell concentration is
0.2 g/L and the down time between batches is 10 h.

(i) Calculate the annual biomass production

(ii) If the desired annual biomass production is to be 10000 tons/year, what
should be the volume of the reactor?

2. A) E.coli is cultured in a 25 m3 reactor for antibiotic production. Under the

operating conditions, the volumetric mass transfer coefficient was found to be 0.37s-
1
. The specific rate of oxygen uptake is given by 22.5 mmol gcell-1 h-1. The solubility
of oxygen in the broth is approximately 8 x 10-3 kg m-3. Find the maximum cell
concentration that can be supported under this condition.

B) The specific oxygen demand of E.coli is found to be 12.5 mmol g-1 h -1 and the
critical oxygen concentration was found to be 0.007 mmol L-1. Estimate the k La
required to achieve a cell concentration of 25 g L-1 while maintaining the dissolved
oxygen concentration above the critical value. The solubility of oxygen in the broth
is approximately 8 x 10-3 kg m-3.

3. Explain the different steps involved in the oxygen transfer from gas bubble to a
microbial cell suspended in a typical air-sparged stirred tank bioreactor. Indicate
the rate limiting step in this process and propose any two reactor operating

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 strategies (with a suitable justification and its mode of action) to maximize the
oxygen transfer to the microbial cell cultivated in the bioreactor.

4. A)A strain of yeastwas used to convert substrate to product in a 100 L ideal

continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR). At steady state the specific growth rate of
the culture is 0.25 h-1 and the substrate concentration inside the reactor is
2 g/L. Determine the sterile feed flow rate in this Chemostat.

B)A strain of yeastwas used to convert substrate to product in a batch fermenter.

10g of biomass was inoculated into 100 L of the fermentation medium. If the
specific growth rate of the culture is approximately 0.17 h-1, determine the batch
time required to produce 20 g of biomass.

5. State True or False with suitable reasoning/explanation.

a. Penicillin is a non-growth associated product during the batch culture of

Penicillium chrysogenum.
b. For optimal operation, the oxygen supply rate in a bioreactor must be equal
to the oxygenuptake rate by the cells during aerobic fermentations.
c. Mammalian cells are not considered to be shear-sensitive cells.
d. A bacterial culture undergoing balanced growth mimicsfirst order
autocatalytic reaction.

6. Bacillus subtilisis grown in a 10-liter bioreactor. The growth kinetics of the

bacterium can be expressed as:
µ = µmax (1- e-0.1 S)
Where S is the substrate concentration (mg/L) and µ is the specific growth rate
(1/h). The kinetic parameter µmax= 0.2h-1. The yield parameters, YX/S = 0.05 g
cell/g substrate and YP/X = 0.1 mg product /mg of cell. The feed substrate
concentration is 100 mg/L.

(i) Determine the exit cell mass concentration at steady state, when the system is
operated at a feed flow rate of 1L/h.
(ii) What is the volumetric cell mass and product productivity of the system?
(iii) What is the washout dilution rate?

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