A multistage system of microbial fed-batch fermentation and its parameter identification

In fed-batch fermentation of glycerol bio-dissimilation to 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PD) by Klebsiella pneumoniae, glycerol and alkali are fed into the reactor to provide nutrient and maintain a suitable environment for cells growth. Taking the feeding process as a time-continuous process, we present a nonlinear multistage dynamical system to formulate the fed-batch fermentation. In view of the big errors between experimental data and computational values, a parameter identification model is established. Finally, an improved Nelder-Mead simplex search method is developed to seek the unknown parameters in the model. Numerical simulations show that the multistage dynamical system can describe the fed-batch process better, compared with the previous results. (C) 2010 IMACS. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.