A model for light-limited continuous cultures: growth, shading, and maintenance

Light-limited growth in continuous cultures of phototrophic organisms is modeled. It is assumed that light energy up-take rate depends hyperbolically on light intensity and that the maintenance costs are proportional to biomass. Modeling the light distribution caused by shading within the vessel is necessary to explain the existence of steady state in light-limited chemostats. The model fits well to experimental data from literature on light-limited chemostats and turbidostats. Attention is given to the implications of the model for the estimation of the specific maintenance rate constant in light-limited continuous cultures.