Numerical simulation of microbial depolymerization process of exogenous type

Abstract

A microbial depolymerization proces of exogenous type is studied with experimental data introduced into the analysis. A mathematical model for exogenous depolymerization processes is described together with the numerical techniques to analyze it. Given an initial weight distribution of polyethylene glycol with respect to the molecular weight and its final weight distribution obtained after cultivation of a microbial consortium E1, an inverse problem of an initial value problem determines an oxidation rate. Given the oxidation rate, the initial value problem was solved to simulate the transition of weight distribution. A numerical simulation shows that the mathematical method of analysis of an exogenous depolymerization process is practically acceptable. The numerical techniques illustrated here are applicable to the analyses of other exogenous depolymerization processes. © Austral. Mathematical Soc. 2005.