Ministry of Science and Technology

Department of Technical and Vocational Education

B.E (Chemical) 2006
Final Examination
23-10-2006
8:30am- 11:30am
ChE 05022 Biochemical Engineering
Answer any five questions
1.

Derive the rate equation for the following enzyme reaction using the BriggsHaldane approach.
k1
k3
S+E
ES
ES
P+|E
k2

2. A substance is converted to a product by the catalytic action of enzyme. Assume

that the Michaelis-Menten kinetic parameters for this enzyme reaction are:
KM = 0.03 mol/l, rmax =13 mol/l-min
(a) What should be the size of a steady-state CSTR to remove 95 percent of incoming
substrate ( Cso = 10 mol/l ) with a flow rate of 10 l/hr?
(b) What should be the size of the reactor if you employ a plug-flow reactor instead of
the CSTR in part (a)?
3. Roughly sketch a prokaryotic cells, label its parts, and state a function for each of
these.
4. What are the basic procedures of recombinant DNA techniques? Explain briefly
these techniques with the help of flow chart.
5. Explain in detail the growth cycle of unicellular micro-organism for batch
cultivation.
6. Aiba et al.(1968) reported the results of a chemostat study on the growth of a
species strain of bakers yeast as shown in the following table. The inlet stream of the
chemostat did not contain any cells or products.
Dilution
Inlet
Steady-state
Steady-state
Rate
Glucose Conc. Glucose Conc. Ethanol Conc.
D,hr-1
Csi ,g/l
Cs,g/l
Cp ,g/l
0.084
21.5
0.054
7.97
0.100
10.9
0.079
4.70
0.160
21.2
0.138
8.57
0.198
20.7
0.186
8.44
0.242
10.8
0.226
4.51
(a) Find the rate equation for cell growth.
(b) Find the rate equation for product (ethanol) formation.

Steady-state
Cell Conc.
Cx ,g/l
2.00
1.20
2.40
2.33
1.25

3. Prokaryotic cells

Cell wall
..
.
.
.. .
..
..
.
..
..
Typical.. prokaryotic cells
.

Cell membrane
Ribosome
Nuclear region
cytoplasm

.. prokaryotic cells
Typical
The prokaryotic cell is unit of structure, two group microbial, bacteria and blue
green algae. Prokaryotic cell is simple and small. Prokaryotic cell is not
compartmentalized by unit membrane. Prokaryotic cell have two structurally
distinguished two internal region: cytoplasm and nuclear region. Cytoplasm contains
graing dark spot due to the present of ribosome.
Ribosome is the site of important biochemical reaction for protein synthesis. The
nucleur contain deoxyribose nucleuic acid (DNA) ,which contain genetic information
that determine the production of protein and structure .
The prokaryotic cell is surrounded by cell wall and a cell membrane. The cell wall
is considerable thicker than cell membrane, and it protect cells from external
influence. The cell membrane serve as the surface which other cells components
attack and important cell function take place.
4. The basic procedures of recombinant DNA techniques have two factor. They are
(1) to join the DNA segment to the molecule and they can be replicated .
(2) to provide environment that allow the reproduction of join DNA molecules .
The produce for the flow chart of recombinant DNA techniques are

DNA
Foreign

Stricky end
DNA Ilagse
Tranaformation

Transformation cell
Fig : The procedure of recombinant DNA .
Figure show the procedure of recombinant DNA techniques. The plasmid cut in
definite size with restriction enzyme. The DNA of the foreign cleaved with restriction
enzyme. Some of fragment have interest gene. The plasmid and genome fragment mixed
and joined by the DNA Ligases. The recombinant plasmids are introduced into the
bacteria and coculativation of plasmid and bacteria.
s
1 .solution
k1
S+E

k3
ES

ES

k2
The intermediate of reaction with respect to time is neglected.
dCES = 0
dt
rCES = k1CsCE- k2 CES- k3 CES = 0
k1CsCE = k3 CES + k2CES
k1CsCE = (k2 +k3 ) CES
CE = (k2 + k3 ) CES
k1Cs
rp = k3 CES

P+|E

(1)

(2)

By enzyme balance,
CEO = CE + CES
= (k2 + k3 ) CES
k1Cs
= ( k2 + k3 +1) CES
k1Cs
CEO = (k2 + k3 + k1Cs) CES
k1Cs
By dividing by k1
3

CES

CEOCS
k2 + k3 +Cs
k1

By substituting of eqn: (2)

rp = k3 CES
= k3 CEO CS
k2 + k3 +Cs
k1
Comparing with rp = rmax Cs
kM +CS
k3 CEO CS = rmax CS
k2 + k3 +Cs
kM +CS
k1
k2+k3
k1

k2
k1

rmax = k3CEO
kM = k2+k3 k2
k1
k1
2. Solution
CS0

Cs

kM = 0.03 mol/L
rmax =13mol 60 min = 780 mol
L min 1 hr
L hr
(a) v =?
xs =95%
Cso =10 mol / L
F = 10 L / hr
CS= CSO (1_ xs)
= 10 (1 _ 0.95) = 0.5 mol /L

At the CSTR,
Input _ Output + general = 0
FCSO _ FCS +rsv
=0
F (CSO _CS)
= _ rsv
F (CSO _Cs)
= rpv
F (CSO _CS)
= rmax Cs V
KM +CS
F
V

= rmax Cs
(KM+CS)(CSO_CS)

F
V

= 780* 0.5
(0.03+0.5) (10-0.5)

F
V

= 390
0.53 * 9.5

F
V
V

= 77.46 hr-1

V
V

=F
77.46hr-1
= 10 L/hr
77.46
= 0.129 liter.

2 .(b)

CS0

Plug Flow

Cs

The plug flow reactor , V = ?

_dCs = rmax Cs
dt
KM +CS
Cs
_
dcs = rmax Cs = Cs
Cso dt
KM +CS KM +CS

t
rmax
0

Cso
t
KM +CS dCs = rmax t
Cs Cs
0
Cso
Cso
kM dCs + dCs = rmax t
Cs
Cs
kMlnCso + ( Cso _Cs ) = rmaxt ( plus = t batch )
kMlnCso + ( Cso _Cs ) = rmax
0.03 ln 10 + (10-0.5) = 780
0.5
0.0899 + 9.5 = 780
9.95899 = 780
= 0.0123hr
= V / F = 0.0123hr
V = 0.0123 10 L/hr
V = 0.123 Liter
6. Soln:
(a) rx = ?
(b) rp = ?
=

hr

max Cs
ks Cs
=

ks 1
1
+
max Cs max

y= mx+c

D = hr-1

CS g/l

0.084
0.1
0.16
0.198
0.242

0.054
0.16
0.13
0186
0.226

1
Cs

11.9
10
6.25
5.05
4.13

18.5
12.6
7.25
5.38
4.42

From graph,
C=

1
= 1.6
max

1
= 0.625
1.6
ks
0.8
m=
=
= 0.667
max
1.2

max =

ks = 0.42 g/l
6. (a) rx = ?
max Cs
rx =
ks Cs
0.625Cs
0.42 Cs

rx =

6. (b) rp = ?

1
dCx
YX / P dt
max C s C x
1
=
YX / P k s C s

rp =

YX
P =
YX
P =
=

C x
Cx
=
C p
Cp

2 / 7.97 1.2 / 4.7 2.4 / 8.57 2.33 / 8.49 1.25 / 4.51

5

0.25 0.26 0.28 0.28 0.28

5

YX
P = 0.27
max C s C x
1
YX / P k s C s
0.625C S

rp =

1
0.27 0.42 C S

rp =

2.31C S
0.42 C S

1.(a) The rates of product formation and substance of consumption are

dC p
dt
dC S

= k3CES

= k1CsCE k2CES (1)

dt
Assume that the change of CES with time, d CES/dt, is neglible compared to that of CP or
CS .
-

dC ES
= k1CSCE k2 CES k3 CES 0 (2)
dt
Substituting Eq (1) into Eq (2) confirms that the rate of product, formation and that of the
substrate consumption are the same, that is ,
dC p
dC S
r=
== k3 CES
dt
dt
If we assume that the total enzyme contents are conserved,
CEO = CE + CES (3)
Substituting Eq (3) into Eq (2) for CE, and rearranging for CES
C Eo C S
CES =
k 2 k 3 k1C S

k 3C EO C S
rmax C S
dC S
r=
== k 2 k3
=
CS
K M CS
dt
dt
k1
While in the Briggs- Haldane approach, it is equal to ( k2 + k3 ) / k1 .
dC p

CS0

Cs

2. KM = 0.03 mol/lit
Umax = 13 mol/lit
CSO = 10 mol/lit
F = 10 L / hr

1hr
1
= Lit / min
60 min 6

(a) V =? , CS = 0.05 CSO = 0.5 mol / lit

(a) CSTR
Input output + generation = accumulation
dC S
FCSO _ FCS + S V
=V
=0
dt
F (CSO_ CS) = _S V
S
F
= _
CSO CS
V
max C S
F
=
( K M C S )(C SO C S )
V
F ( K M C S )(C SO C S )
V=
max C S
10
(0.03 0.5)(10 0.5)
= 60
13 0.5

= 0.129 Lit.
(b) V =?
FC SO

CS

For plug flow reaction

dC S
C
max S
dt
K M CS

CCSSO
CCSOS

K M CS
dC S max t0 dt
CS

KM
dC S CCSOS dC S max t
CS

CS
(C SO C S ) max t
CS
10
V
0.03 ln
(10 0.5) 13
0.5
10 / 60
V =0.123lit
K M ln

3. The prokaryotic cell is the unit of structure in two microbial groups:

bacteria and blue-green algae. The prokaryotic is small and simple , as shown
in fig , which is not compartmentalized by unit membrane systems .The cell has
only two structurally distinguishable internal regions: cytoplasm and nuclear
region (or nucleoplasm ).The cytoplasm has grainy dark spots as a result of its
content of ribosomes, which are composed of protein and ribonucleic acid
(RNA) . The ribosome is the site of important biochemical reactions for protein
synthesis. The nuclear region is of irregular shape , sharply segregated even
though it is not bounded by membrane .The nuclear region contains
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) ,which contains genetic information that
determines the production of proteins and other cellular substances and
structures .
The prokaryotic cell is surrounded with a cell wall and a cell membrane.
The cell wall, considerably thicker than the cell membrane, protects the cell
from external influences. The cell membrane (or cytoplasmic membrane) is a
selective barrier between the interior of the cell and the external environment .
The largest molecules known to cross this membrane are DNA fragments and
low-molecular-weight proteins. The cell membrane can be folded and extended
into the cytoplasm or internal membranes. The cell membrane serves as the
surface onto which other cell substances attach and upon which many
important cell functions take place.

 ..
.

Cell wall
Cell membrane
Ribosome
Nuclear region

cytoplasm
...
.
..
.
..
..
.
Plasmld
..
..
..
.
Restrictio
n enzyme
..

Foreign
DNA

'Stricky
end'

DNA Ilagse
Tranaformation

Transformed cell
Fig, Method for the production of recombinant DNA
Fig shows the overall procedure for the production of recombinant DNA .The
plasmid is cut at a number of defined sites with a restriction enzyme. The DNA of a
foreign genome is cleaved with a restriction enzyme. Some of the resulting fragments may
have the gene of interest. Plasmids and genome fragments are mixed and joined by DNA
ligase. The recombinant plasmids are introduced into bacteria by cocultivation of plasmids
and bacteria.
5. Growth Cycle for Batch Cultivation
If you inoculate unicellular microorganisms into a fresh sterilized medium and
measure the cell number density with respect to time and plot it, you may find that there
are six phases of growth and death,as shown in Fig. They are:
1. Lag phase: A period of time when the change of cell number is zero.
2. Accelerated growth phase: The cell number starts to increase and the division
rate increases to reach a maximum.
3. Exponential growth phase: The cell number increases exponentially as the cells
start to divide. The growth rate is increasing during this phase, but the division rate which
is proportional to d ln Cno / dt, is constant at its maximum value, as illustrated in fig .

10

4. Decelerated Growth phas: After the growth rate reaches a maximum, it is

followed by the deceleration of both growth rate and the division rate .
5. Stationary phase: The cell population will reach a maximum value and will not
increase any further.
6. Death phase: After nutrients available for the cells are depleted, cells will start to
die and the number of viable cells will decrease.
1 Lag Phase
The lag phase (or initial stationary, or latent) is an initial period of cultivation
during which the change of cell number is zero or negligible. Even though the cell number
does not increase, the cells may grow in size during this period.
The length of this lag period depends on many factors such as the type and age of
the microorganisms, the size of the inoculum, and culture conditions. The lag usually
occurs because the cells must adjust to the new medium before growth can begin. If
microorganisms are inoculated from a medium with a low nutrient concentration to a
medium with a high concentration, the length of the lag period is usually long. This is
because the cells must produce the enzymes necessary for the metabolization of the
available nutrients. If they are moved from a high to a low nutrient concentration, there is
usually no lag phase.
Another important factor affection the length of the lag phase is the size of the
inoculum. If a small amount of cells are inoculated into a large volume, they will have a
long lag phase. For large-scale operation of the cell culture, it is our objective to make this
lag phase as short as possible. Therefore, to inoculate a large fermenter, we need to have a
series of progressively larger seed tanks to minimize the effect of the lag phase.
A

12
10
8

t
Fig Typical growth curve of unicellular organisms: (A) lag phase; (B) accelerated
growth phase; (C) exponential phase; (D) decelerated growth phase; (E) stationary phase;
(F) death phase.
At the end of the lag phase, when growth begins, the division rate increases
gradually and reaches a maximum value in the exponential growth period, as shown by the
rising inflection at B in fig. This transitional period is commonly called the accelerated
growth phase and is often included as a part of the lat phase.
In unicellular organisms, the progressive doubling of cell number results in a
continually increasing rate of grown in the population. A bacterial culture undergoing
balanced growth mimics a first-order autocatalytic chemical reaction. Therefore, the rate of
the number density (Cn) of bacteria present at that time:
dC n
rn
C n where the constant is known as the specific growth rate
dt
hr 1 .The specific growth rate should not be confused with the growth rate, which has

11

different units and meaning. The growth rate is the change of the cell number density with
time, while the specific growth rate is
1 dC n d ln C n

C n dt
dt
The growth of microbial populations is normally limited either by the exhaustion of
available nutrients or by the accumulation of toxic products of metabolism. As a
consequence, the rate of growth declines and growth eventually stops. At this point a
culture is said to be in the stationary phase. The transition between the exponential phase
and the stationary phase involves a period of unbalanced growth during which the various
cellular components are synthesized at unequal rates. Consequently, cells in the stationary
phase have a chemical composition different from that of cells in the exponential phase.
The stationary phase is usually followed by a death phase in which the organisms
in the population die. Death occurs either because of the depletion of the cellular reserves
of energy, or the accumulation of toxic products. Like growth, death is an exponential
function. In some cases, the organisms not only die but also disintegrate, a process called
lysis.
6. (a) Cxi= 0

, Csi = 0
C
max S
K S CS
KS
1
1

max C S max
K 1
1
1
S

D max C S maz
K
1
1
, slope S
Plot Vs
D CS
max
Intercept

D = hr-1
0.084
0.1
0.16
0.198
0.242

max

CS g/l

1
Cs

0.054
11.9
0.16
10
0.13
6.25
0186
5.05
0.226
4.13
KS
1
0.69 , Intercept
Slope =
= 1.2
max
max

18.5
12.6
7.25
5.38
4.42

max 0.8

x C x

0.833C S
.C x
0.575 C S

6. (b) Material balance for Pdt in CSTF ,

FC Pi FC P rPV 0

F (C Pi C p ) rPV 0

12

F (C Pi C p ) rpV

C P C Pi
V C Pi C P

F
rP
rP
V CP

F
rP
CP
CP
For S.S CSTF with sterile feed, rP
m
D

1
,
m

rP C P

max C S
K S Cs
max C P
.C B
=
K S CS

From Manod, rP C P .

plot

1
1
Vs

D
CB

straight line

13

14

15

16

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