CHE142 Q2

8/18/17
SCHOOL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING AND CHEMISTRY. MAPAU UNIVERSITY

Instructions:
Problem Solving.
Write the necessary comments for each step of the solution in the problem solving. Indicate all
the units.
i. Write neatly and clearly by proving enough space in between each line of your solution.
If the solution is more than one page, continue on the next page, clearly indicating that
you have done so.
ii. Clearly indicate the answer you are submitting, (e.g., by circling).
This exam is worth 100 points.
Time limit: 1.5 hours

1. The enzyme, urease, is immobilized in Ca-alginate beads 4 mm in diameter. When the urea
concentration in the bulk liquid is 0.5 mM the rate of urea hydrolysis is v = 9 mM/h
diffusivity of urea in Ca-alginate beads is De = 3.5x104 cm2/sec, and the Michaelis constant
for the enzyme is Km = 0.35 mM. By neglecting the liquid film resistance on the beads (i.e.,
[So] = [Ss]) determine the following:
a. Maximum rate of hydrolysis Vm, Thiele modulus (), and effectiveness factor ().
b. What would be the Vm, , and values for a particle size of Dp = 6 mm?
Hint: Assume = 3/ for large values of ( > 2).

2. The Michaelis-Menten kinetic parameters for a soluble enzyme for a certain substrate are
found to be
Km = 0.05 mol/L
rmax=10 mol/L min.
After immobilizing this enzyme on the surface of insoluble matrix by physical adsorption, it was

found that the value was increased to 0.08 mol/L whereas the value stayed the
same as vmax. What is the effectiveness factor of the immobilized enzyme when the substrate
concentration is 1 mol/L?

1. Problem 3. Growth Stoichiometry and yield coefficient 30 pts

Aerobic degradation of an organic compound by a mixed culture of organisms in waste water
can be represented by the following reaction

C3H6O3 + a O2 + b NH3 c C5H7NO2 + d H2O + e CO2

a) Determine a, b, c, d, and e, if YX/S =0.38 gX/gS
b) Determine the yield coefficients YX/O2 and Yx/NH3
c) Determine the degree of reductions for the substrate, bacteria, and RQ for the organisms.

Problem 3.

BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING| EXAM 11

 CHE142 Q2
8/18/17
SCHOOL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING AND CHEMISTRY. MAPAU UNIVERSITY

In a batch reactor of volume 5,000 liters, the final desired yeast concentration is 50 gdw/l.
Using the above reaction stoichiometry
a. Determine the concentration and total amount of glucose and (NH4)2SO4 in the nutrient
medium.
b. Determine the yield coefficients YX/S (biomass/glucose) and YX/O2 (biomass/oxygen).
c. Determine the total amount of oxygen required.
d. If the rate of growth at exponential phase is rx 0.7 gdw/l-h, determine the rate of oxygen
consumption (g O2/l-h).
e. Calculate the heat-removal requirements for the reactor.

BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING| EXAM 11

 CHE142 Q2
8/18/17
SCHOOL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING AND CHEMISTRY. MAPAU UNIVERSITY

BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING| EXAM 11

 CHE142 Q2
8/18/17
SCHOOL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING AND CHEMISTRY. MAPAU UNIVERSITY

BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING| EXAM 11