Macrokinetic model for Gluconobacter oxydans in 2-keto-L-gulonic acid mixed culture

Abstract

A set of kinetic models have been developed for the production of 2-keto-L-gulonic acid from L-sorbose by a mixed culture of Gluconobacter oxydans and Bacillus megaterium. A metabolic pathway is proposed for Gluconobacter oxydans, and a macrokinetic model has been developed for Gluconobacter oxydans, where the balances of some key metabolites, ATP and NADH are taken into account. An unstructured model is proposed for concomitant bacterium Bacillus megaterium. In the macrokinetic model and unstructured model, the mechanism of interaction between Gluconobacter oxydans and Bacillus megaterium is investigated and modeled. The specific substrate uptake rate and the specific growth rate obtained from the macrokinetic model are then coupled into a bioreactor model such that the relationship between the substrate feeding rate and the main state variables, such as the medium volume, the biomass concentrations, the substrate, and the is set up. A closed loop regulator model is introduced to approximate the induction of enzyme pool during lag phase after inoculation. Experimental results demonstrate that the model is able to describe 2-keto-L-gulonic acid fermentation process with reasonable accuracy.