Study of Influence of Air Ions on the Growth Rate of Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae Based on Analytical Growth Model

Abstract

The influence of the concentration of ions in a nutrient medium both on the surface charge and potential of a yeast cell and diffusion of nutrients through its membrane and on the productivity of baking yeast was studied theoretically. It was shown that the ionized molecules of air components (first of all, of oxygen and nitrogen) changes the concentration of ions in the medium, the surface charge and potential of the yeast cell. This feature affects the diffusion of nutrients through membrane into the cell. The growth rate of the yeast mass depends on the amount of electricity, transported by air ions in the nutrient medium, and is limited by its certain value. That is why the yeast mass growth equation take into account the amount of electricity transported by air ions into the nutrient medium. A priori calculation shows that the productivity of the baker’s yeast can increase by 12…17%.