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Abstract
SUMMARY: A small single-phase continuous fermentor system for convenient longterm operation at steady state with small population densities is described. A method by which the effect of extracellular limiting nutrient on growth rate can be evaluated from the resulting data is discussed. This method was used for Torulopsis utilis to determine the Michaelis constants for growth with oxygen and glycerol; these were found to be 1·4×10−5 m and 4·9×10−5 m. Size of organisms and yields were found to decrease with growth rate. Average volume of organisms decreased from 60 to 41 μ3 and the yield decreased from 1·8 to 1·2 g. dry wt./organism/g. oxygen consumed. An endogenous metabolism rate constant determined from yields at growth rates above 30% maximum was 0·056 g. oxygen used/g. dry wt. organism/hr.
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