Analysis of microbial growth and product formation with Nitrate as Nitrogen source

Mass balance regularities are used to develop equations for the estimation of maintenance coefficients, true growth yields, and true product yields when nitrate is the nitrogen source. An available electron balance is presented that includes the uptake of nitrate. The application of the theory is illustrated using continuous-culture data of Stouthamer and Bettenhaussen in which Aerobacter aerogenes is grown aerobically with KNO₃ as the nitrogen source.