Table 7.

Instantaneous and specific rates of the three sequential sorbitol fermentation batches using P. acidipropionici operating in four independent vessels

	First batch	Second batch	Third batch
rS = −dS/dt (g h−1)	−0.224	−0.272	−0.250
rSA = dP/dt (g h−1)	0.022	0.036	0.053
rAA = dP/dt (g h−1)	0.012	0.008	0.007
rPA = dP/dt (g h−1)	0.137	0.114	0.109
rx = dX/dt (g h−1)	0.082	0.089	0.070
μs = 1/X(−dS/dt) (h−1)	−0.039	−0.044	−0.051
μSA = 1/X(dP/dt) (h−1)	0.004	0.006	0.011
μAA = 1/X(dP/dt) (h−1)	0.002	0.001	0.001
μPA = 1/X(dP/dt) (h−1)	0.024	0.018	0.022
μx = 1/X(dX/dt) (h−1)	0.014	0.014	0.014

S: substrate (sorbitol); SA: succinic acid; AA: acetic acid; PA: propionic acid; X: cells.