Mass of Substrate Utilized given Maximum Yield Coefficient Calculator

Mass of Substrate Utilized Formula:

\[ M_s = \frac{M_t}{Y} \]

Mass of Substrate Utilized (kg):

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1. What is Mass of Substrate Utilized?

Definition: Mass of Substrate Utilized is the total mass of substrate used in a biological process by microorganisms.

Purpose: It helps in determining the amount of organic matter consumed by microorganisms in wastewater treatment, bioremediation, or fermentation processes.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

\[ M_s = \frac{M_t}{Y} \]

Where:

\( M_s \) — Mass of Substrate Utilized (kg)
\( M_t \) — Total Microbial Mass (kg)
\( Y \) — Maximum Yield Coefficient (mg cells/mg substrate)

Explanation: The total microbial mass is divided by the yield coefficient to determine how much substrate was consumed to produce that biomass.

3. Importance of Substrate Mass Calculation

Details: Accurate substrate utilization calculations are crucial for designing biological treatment systems, optimizing process efficiency, and understanding microbial growth kinetics.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the total microbial mass in kg and the maximum yield coefficient (default 0.5). All values must be > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the Maximum Yield Coefficient?
A: It represents the maximum amount of microbial biomass produced per unit of substrate consumed, typically ranging from 0.3 to 0.6 for most wastewater treatment processes.

Q2: How is Total Microbial Mass measured?
A: It can be measured as volatile suspended solids (VSS) in wastewater treatment or through direct biomass measurements in controlled fermentation processes.

Q3: What affects the Yield Coefficient?
A: Factors include microorganism type, substrate characteristics, environmental conditions (temperature, pH), and process configuration.

Q4: What units should be used?
A: Consistent mass units must be used (kg for both microbial mass and substrate mass). The yield coefficient is dimensionless (kg/kg).

Q5: Does this calculation account for maintenance energy?
A: No, this simple calculation assumes all substrate is used for growth. For more accurate models, maintenance energy requirements should be considered.