Carbon dioxide-limited growth of Chlorella in continuous cultures.

The original mathematical model of microbial growth in the Chemostat is modified to describe continuous cultures in which the limiting nutrient is supplied at a rate independent of the dilution rate. The application of this model to continuous Chlorella cultures in which CO(2) is the factor limiting growth is discussed. The conclusions from the model are: (i) at a constant rate of CO(2) supply, the equilibrium population density is directly proportional to the retention time; and (ii) the production rate is directly proportional to the rate of CO(2) supply. Experimental data are presented to verify the theoretical conclusions.