Operating a Chemostat (CSTR Bioreactor)

maximum growth rate (

-1

h

)

0.2

Monod constant (g/L)

0.5

feed substrate concentration (g/L)

1

cell death rate constant (

-1

h

)

0.06

Cells and substrate are fed to a steady-state chemostat (continuous stirred-tank bioreactor) where they react to form more cells. The cell concentration (dashed blue line) in the reactor is plotted versus the dilution rate

D

, which is the feed volumetric flow rate divided by the reactor volume. The concentration of unreacted substrate leaving the reactor (solid blue line) is also shown. The cell production rate (

D

C

cell

) is the solid green line. Use sliders to change the feed substrate concentration, Monod constant, maximum growth rate and the cell death rate constant. Washout occurs at a high enough dilution rate that the cells are flushed out of the reactor and

C

cell

=0

. Note that the scale on the right

y

axis (green) changes as parameters change.