Bioprocess Engineering Multiple Choice Questions on “Stoichiometry of Growth and Product Formation”.
1. ”Bacteria have slightly higher nitrogen content than fungi”.
A. True
B. False
Answer: A
Explanation: Bacteria tend to have slightly higher nitrogen contents (11-14%) than fungi (6.3-9.0%).
2. Estimate the degree of reduction of Methane, Glucose and Ethanol?
A. γ(CH4) = 6, γ(C6H12O6) = 4, γ(C2H5OH) = 6
B. γ(CH4) = 6, γ(C6H12O6) = 4, γ(C2H5OH) = 8
C. γ(CH4) = 8, γ(C6H12O6) = 4, γ(C2H5OH) = 6
D. γ(CH4) = 4, γ(C6H12O6) = 6, γ(C2H5OH) = 8
3. Calculate the stoichiometric coefficients of the following biological reaction:
Hexadecane: C16H34 + a O2 + b NH3 = c (C4.4H7.3N0.86O1.2) + d H2O + e CO2
A. a = 12.427, b = 2.085, c = 2.42, d = 12.43, e = 5.33
B. a = 12.345, b = 3.456, c = 2.42, d = 12.46, e = 5.44
C. a = 12.594, b = 2.345, c = 3.42, d = 12.49, e = 5.66
D. a = 12.345, b = 3.560, c = 3.42, d = 12.46, e = 5.44
Answer: A
Explanation: Amount of carbon in 1 mole of substrate = 16 (12) = 192 g
Amount of carbon converted to biomass = 192 (2/3) = 128 g
Then, 128 = c (4.4)(12); c = 2.42
Amount of carbon converted to CO2 = 192 – 128 = 64 g
64 = e (12)
e = 5.33
The nitrogen balance yields
14b = c (0.86)(14)
b = (2.42)(0.86) = 2.085
The hydrogen balance is
34 (1) + 3b = 7.3c + 2d
d = 12.43
The oxygen balance yields
2a(16) = 1.2c(16) + 2e(16) + d(16)
a = 12.427.
4. Calculate the stoichiometric coefficients of the following biological reaction:
Glucose: C6H12O6 + aO2 + bNH3 = c (C4.4H7.3N0.86O1.2) + d H2O + e CO2
A. a = 1.573, b = 0.685, c = 0.470, d = 2.564, e = 2
B. a = 2.789, b = 1.896, c = 0.438, d = 1.395, e = 1
C. a = 1.473, b = 0.782, c = 0.909, d = 3.854, e = 2
D. a = 2.390, b = 1.295, c = 0.943, d = 2. 564, e = 1
Answer: C
Explanation: Amount of carbon in 1 mole of substrate = 72 g
Amount of carbon converted to biomass = 72(2/3) = 48 g
Then, 48 = 4.4c (12); c= 0.909
Amount of carbon to CO2 = 72-48 = 24 g
24 = 12e
e = 2
The nitrogen balance yields
14b = 0.86c (14)
b = 0.782
The hydrogen balance is
12 + 3b = 7.3c + 2d
d = 3.854
The oxygen balance yields
6(16) + 2(16)a = 1.2(16)c + 2(16)e +16d
a = 1.473.
5. A yeast (CH1.66N0.13O0.40) is growing aerobically on arabinose (C5H10O5) and ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH) with a respiratory quotient of 1.4. Estimate the stoichiometric coefficient of the equation:
aC5H10O5 + bO2 + cNH4OH → CH1.66N0.13O0.40 + dCO2 + eH2O
A. a = 0.2823, b = 0.2938, c = 0.13, d = 0.4113, e = 0.9065
B. a = 0.2893, b = 0.3638, c = 0.13, d = 0.4321, e = 0.9478
C. a = 0.2843, b = 0.2590, c = 0.13, d = 0.4321, e = 0.9576
D. a = 0.2823, b = 0.2130, c = 0.13, d = 0.4113, e = 0.8743
Answer: A
Explanation: Equations for coefficients:
C atom balance: 5a = 1 + d —————— (1)
H atom balance: 10a + 5c = 1.66 + 2e ——– (2)
O atom balance: 5a + 2b + c = 0.40 + 2d + e —- (3)
N atom balance: c = 0.13 ———————— (4)
Respiratory quotient: RQ = 1.4 = d/b ———– (5)
Therefore, eq.2× eq.(3) – eq.(2), we get,
b = 0.2938
From eq.(5), we get,
d = 0.4113
From eq.(1), we get,
a = 0.2823
From eq.(3), we get,
e = 0.9065.
6. Estimating Yield from Stoichiometry:
3C6H12O6 + 8 O2 + 2NH3 -> 2C5H7O2N + 8CO2 +14H2O
Given:3(180) 8(32) 2(17) 2(113)
Calculate the yield of glucose.
A. 0.53 g cells / g glucose used
B. 0.27 g cells / g glucose used
C. 0.42 g cells / g glucose used
D. 0.51 g cells / g glucose used
7. The growth of S.cerevisiae on glucose under anaerobic conditions can be described by the following reaction:
C6H12O6 + aNH3 → 0.59 CH1.64N0.16O0.52 (biomass) + 0.43 C3H8O3 + 1.54CO2 + 1.3C2H5OH +0.036H2O
Determine the biomass (MW= 23.74) yield coefficient Y x/s
A. 0.078 g. g⁻¹
B. 0.070 g. g⁻¹
C. 0.068 g. g⁻¹
D. 0.060 g. g⁻¹
Answer: A
Explanation: Yx/s = 0.59xMW biomass/1xMWglucose
= 0.59×23.74/1×180 = 0.078 g. g⁻¹.
8. The growth of S.cerevisiae on glucose under anaerobic conditions can be described by the following reaction:
C6H12O6 + aNH3 → 0.59 CH1.64N0.16O0.52 (biomass) + 0.43 C3H8O3 + 1.54CO2 + 1.3C2H5OH + 0.036H2O and determine the product yield coefficient Y etoh/s and determine coefficient a.
A. 0.57 g. g⁻¹, 0.078
B. 0.33 g. g⁻¹, 0.094
C. 0.45 g. g⁻¹, 0.086
D. 0.44 g. g⁻¹, 0.056
Answer: B
Explanation: Yetoh/s = 1.3 x MW EtOH / 1x MW glucose
= 0.59 x 46/ 1×180 = 0.33 g.g⁻¹
N in NH3 = N in biomass (CH1.64N0.16O0.52)
∴ a = (0.59)(0.16) = 0.094.
9. What is the degree of reduction of glucose?
A. 4
B. 3
C. 12
D. 24
Answer: D
Explanation: Glucose is C6H12O6. The degree of reduction = 6 x (+4) + 12 x (+1) + 6 x (-2) = 24.
10. What is the COD (chemical oxygen demanD. of ethanol, expressed as g COD/g ethanol?
A. 1.30 g COD/g ethanol
B. 32 g COD/g ethanol
C. 2.24 g COD/g ethanol
D. 2.09 g COD/g ethanol
Answer: D