| Abstract: | A rapid and internally consistent technique has been developed to measure the volumetric oxygen transfer coefficient, kLa, in fermentation systems. The method consists of tracing the dissolved O2 concentration of the fermentation broth during a short interruption of the aeration. The O2 concentration trace thus obtained can be analyzed to determine the values of kLa. Additional experiments on prolonged O2 starvation, carried out to find the limitation of the technique, suggest that O2 uptake rate will vary if a prolonged (2–10 min.) O2 starvation occurs. |
