Influence of Biomass Concentration on Specific Growth Rate

2 fi = i x) Influence of Biomass Concentration on Specific Growth Rate 

Normally it is assumed that microbial growth follows first-order kinetics with respect to biomass concentration (cf. Equ. 2.7). In exponential growth in batch processes and in continuous operation, can be realized. However, Monod (1949) himself presented different hypotheses concerning the function H = fx s, x), illustrated in Fig. 5.22. 

While Verhulst (1845) assumed a linear decrease according to 

Obviously, the growth rate constant will formally become dependent on biomass concentration in case of substrate limitation at high cell concentrations. This fact is of great significance in the area of population dynamics. Using Equ. 5.63 for the calculation of cell mass as a function of time, a kinetic equation can be derived 

This is known as Verhulst-Pearl s equation, and it can be used in place of the normal non-substrate-limited growth of a population 

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