Unstructured model for growth of mycelial pellets in submerged cultures.

An unstructured model is presented to describe growth of mycelial pellets in submerged cultures. This model integrates growth kinetics at the scale of the hyphae with the physical mechanisms of mass-transfer processes at the scale of the pellets and the fermentor. The main elements of the model are biomass, substrate, and oxygen balances for the liquid phase and the pellets.