NONEQUILIBRIUM THERMODYNAMIC CONSIDERATIONS OF THE EFFICIENCY, CONTROL, AND REGULATION OF MICROBIAL-GROWTH

The, submaximal, thermodynamic efficiency of aerobic microbial growth depends on whether DO consumption / production Of O2, or no carbon product other than biomass, is admitted into the assimilation equation. When the growth substrate has a low degree of reduction, the former efficiency approaches 22 % whilst the latter approaches 54 %. Expectations for maximal growth rate at optimum efficiency and for maximum economic growth rate at optimum efficiency are 24 and 54 %, respectively. A new control analysis method is derived that may be used to deduce properties of intracellular processes from the control properties of the cell as a whole.