THEORY OF OSCILLATIONS OF RESPIRATION RATE IN CONTINUOUS CULTURE OF KLEBSIELLA AEROGENES

The mechanism leading to oscillations of respiration rate in Klebsiella aerogenes in continuous culture is described qualitatively. This is based on the following three conditions: (1) the respiration rate of the culture is inhibited by oxygen; (2) the respiration rate depends on the concentration of oxidizable substrate, which is lowered at high respiration rates and increased at low respiration rates; (3) the uptake of oxygen from the gas to the liquid phase is diffusion limited. These three conditions are analogous to the conditions leading to oscillations in electrochemical systems. The mathematical model for electrochemical oscillations is also applicable in the present case. © 1969.