A piecewise-linear growth model: comparison with competing forms in batch culture.

A simplified one-dimensional growth model based on the mass conservation law is proposed. Mathematically, it represents an easiest special case of so called L-systems. The model developed being considered as a descriptive tool of the growth curves is compared with four other similar and widely used models, in application to numerical data of bacteria (taken from literature) and of algae (an original experiment) growing in batch. Identification of free constants of the five models in comparison is performed using a nonlinear least squares iterative procedure, for which special programs were written. Theoretical and practical (approximative) merits of the new model are shown and discussed.