http://dspace1.isd.glam.ac.uk:80/dspace/handle/10265/142 Fri, 24 May 2013 21:19:24 GMT 2013-05-24T21:19:24Z http://dspace1.isd.glam.ac.uk:80/dspace/handle/10265/607 Title: Modeling mixed culture fermentations; the role of different electron carriers Authors: Rodriguez-Rodriguez, Jorge Abstract: A recently established mixed culture fermentation (MCF) model has been modified to account for the role of different electron carriers in the process. The MCF-model predicts the product spectrum as a function of the actual environmental conditions using a thermodynamic optimization criterion while satisfying a number of constrants. Other improvements made to the original model are the inclusion of formate as fermentation end-product, and gas-liquid mass transfer. The model is adequately capable of reproducing experimental results in terms of butyrate and formate versus hydrogen/carbon dioxide production. The model is not capable of predicting the production of an ethanol/acetate mixtue as measured at higher pH-values, suggesting specific biochemical control. Catabolic acetate production can potentially be explained by anabolic requirements for a specific electron donor like NADH. Fri, 21 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://dspace1.isd.glam.ac.uk:80/dspace/handle/10265/607 2012-12-21T00:00:00Z http://dspace1.isd.glam.ac.uk:80/dspace/handle/10265/606 Title: Energy-based models for environmental biotechnology Authors: Rodriguez-Rodriguez, Jorge Abstract: Environmental biotechnology is evolving. Current process objectives include the production of chemicals and/or energy carriers (biofuels) in addition to the traditional objective of removing pollutants from waste. To maximise product yields and minimise biomass production, future processes will rely on anaerobic microbial communities. Anaerobic processes are characterised by small Gibbs energy changes in the reactions catalysed, and this provides clear thermodynamic process boundaries. Here, a Gibbs-energy-based methodology is proposed for mathematical modelling of energy-limited anaerobic ecosystems. This methodology provides a basis for the description of microbial activities as a function of environmental factors, which will allow enhanced catalysis of specific reactions of interest for process development. Sun, 12 Aug 2012 23:00:00 GMT http://dspace1.isd.glam.ac.uk:80/dspace/handle/10265/606 2012-08-12T23:00:00Z