Chapter 4, Problem 4.62P

Oxygen consumed by a living organism in aerobic reactions is used in adding mass to the organism and/or the production of chemicals and carbon dioxide. Since we may not know the molecular compositions of all species in such a reaction, it is common to define the ratio of moles of CO₂produced per mole of O₂ consumed as the respiratory quotient. RQ. where

Since it generally is impossible to predict values of RQ, they must be determined from operating data. Mammalian cells are used in a bioreactor to convert glucose to glutamic acid by the reaction

CftHiiOf, + £/NHj + hO₂ —? PC5H9NO4 + t/CO₂ + rfl₂O

The feed to the bioreactor comprises l.OOx 10² mol C₆H₁₂O₍/day, 1.20x 10² mol NHj/day, and l.lOx 10² mol O₂/day. Data on the system show that RQ = 0.45 mol CO₂ produced/mol On consumed.

1. Determine the five stoichiometric coefficients and the limiting reactant.

Assuming that the limiting reactant is consumed completely, calculate the molar and mass flow rates of all species leaving the reactor and the fractional conversions of the non-limiting reactants.