Static and dynamic behavior of a class of unstructured models of continuous bioreactors with growth associated product

Abstract.

The static and dynamic behavior of a class of unstructured models of continuous bioprocesses, for which the product is growth associated, are analyzed using elementary concepts of singularity theory and continuation techniques. The class consists of models for which both the rates of utilization of limiting substrate and product formation are linearly proportional to the specific cell growth rate. The kinetic expressions are allowed to assume general forms of substrate and nonbiomass product.

The steady-state analysis allows the derivation of analytical results and the construction of a useful picture in the models' parameter space delineating the different static behavior these models can predict, including unique steady states and bistability.

The analysis of the dynamic behavior allows the derivation of general analytical conditions for the occurrence of periodic behavior in the models. It is also shown that the subclass of these models for which the specific cell growth rate expression is monotonic with respect to the nonbiomass product is unable to predict a stable oscillatory behavior regardless of the expression of the growth rate. These results illustrate the fundamental weakness of this class of unstructured models in predicting transient behavior in continuous cultures. The effect of kinetic and operating parameters on the stability characteristics of these models is also investigated.