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Experimental evidence for the need of thermodynamic considerations in modelling of anaerobic environmental bioprocesses
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Experimental evidence for the need of thermodynamic considerations in modelling of anaerobic environmental bioprocesses

C-Y Hoh and R. Cord-Ruwisch
Water Science and Technology, Vol.36(10), pp.109-115
1996 International Conference on Environmental Biotechnology (Palmerston North, New Zealand, 01/09/1996–04/09/1996)
1997
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0273-1223(97)00647-1
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Abstract

For modeling of biological processes that operate close to the dynamic equilibrium leg (eg. anaerobic processes), it is critical to prevent the prediction of positive reaction rates when the reaction has already reached dynamic equilibrium. Traditional Michaelis-Menten based models were found to violate the laws of thermodynamics as they predicted positive reaction rates for reactions that were endergonic due to high endproduct concentrations. The inclusion of empirical 'product inhibition factors' as suggested by previous work could not prevent this problem. This paper compares the predictions of the Michaelis-Menten Model (with and without product inhibition factors) and the Equilibrium Based Model (which has a thermodynamic term intoduced into its rate equation) with experimental results of reactions in anaerobic bacterial environments. In contrast to the Michaelis-Menten based models that used traditional inhibition factors, the Equilibrium Based Model correctly predicted the nature and the degree of inhibition due to endproduct accumulation. Moreover, this model also correctly predicted when reaction rates must be zero due to the free energy change of the conversion reaction being zero. With these added advantages, the Equilibrium Based Model thus seemed to provide a scientifically correct and more realistic basis for a variety of models that describe anaerobic biosystems. For modeling of biological processes that operate close to the dynamic equilibrium (eg. anaerobic processes), it is critical to prevent the prediction of positive reaction rates when the reaction has already reached dynamic equilibrium. Traditional Michaelis-Menten based models were found to violate the laws of thermodynamics as they predicted positive reaction rates for reactions that were endergonic due to high endproduct concentrations. The inclusion of empirical `product inhibition factors' as suggested by previous work could not prevent this problem. This paper compares the predictions of the Michaelis-Menten Model (with and without product inhibition factors) and the Equilibrium Based Model (which has a thermodynamic term introduced into its rate equation) with experimental results of reactions in anaerobic bacterial environments. In contrast to the Michaelis-Menten based models that used traditional inhibition factors, the Equilibrium Based Model correctly predicted the nature and the degree of inhibition due to endproduct accumulation. Moreover, this model also correctly predicted when reaction rates must be zero due to the free energy change of the conversion reaction being zero. With these added advantages, the Equilibrium Based Model thus seemed to provide a scientifically correct and more realistic basis for a variety of models that describe anaerobic biosystems.

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Source: InCites

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34 Record Views
21 Times Cited - Web of Science

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Citation topics
3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
3.83 Bioengineering
3.83.416 Anaerobic Digestion
Web Of Science research areas
Engineering, Environmental
Environmental Sciences
Water Resources
ESI research areas
Environment/Ecology
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