Explore topic-wise MCQs in Microbiology.

This section includes 108 Mcqs, each offering curated multiple-choice questions to sharpen your Microbiology knowledge and support exam preparation. Choose a topic below to get started.

1.

The oxygen uptake requirements of a microbial population is characterized by the following parameters: μm = 0.2 h-1, K0 = 0.2 mg O2.l-1, Y0 = 0.5 mg dry weight/mg O2 and C0,crit=0.8 mg.l-1 The required concentration of cells is 1000 mg.l-1 and the saturation oxygen concentration of the medium is 5.8 mg.l-1. The required KLa must be greater than

A. 64 h-1
B. 32 h-1
C. 16 h-1
D. 8h-1
Answer» B. 32 h-1
2.

In a bioreactor, if at a particular time the oxygen transfer rate is 23 kg.h-1, then the oxygen uptake will be

A. 23 kg.h-1
B. less than 23 kg.h-1
C. greater than 23 kg.h-1
D. 2.3 kg.h-1
Answer» B. less than 23 kg.h-1
3.

A fermentation system has a KLa of 3 s-1 and a C0* of 5 ppm of O2. If the bulk liquid is completely depleted of oxygen, then the oxygen transfer rate will be equal to

A. zero
B. 15 mg.l-1.s-1
C. 10 mg.l-1.s-1
D. 5 mg.l-1.s-1
Answer» C. 10 mg.l-1.s-1
4.

A fermentation system has a KLa of 3 s-1 and a C0* of 5 ppm of O2. If the bulk liquid is saturated with oxygen then the oxygen transfer rate will be equal to

A. zero
B. 3 mg.l-1.s-1
C. 5 mg.l-1.s-1
D. 15 mg.l-1.s-1
Answer» B. 3 mg.l-1.s-1
5.

The effect of increasing the stirrer speed in an unbaffled stirred tank reactor is that

A. a small increase in stirrer speed will cause the liquid to enter the turbulent flow regime
B. as the stirrer speed increases, the liquid will continue to circulate and then become turbulent
C. as the stirrer speed increases, the liquid will continue to circulate. Eventually a vortex will form.
D. A vortex will form at low stirrer speeds. As the stirrer speed increases the liquid will start to circulate
Answer» D. A vortex will form at low stirrer speeds. As the stirrer speed increases the liquid will start to circulate
6.

The oxygen absorption rate can be determined by

A. sodium sulfite oxidation method
B. dynamic gassing out technique
C. direct measurement
D. all of these
Answer» E.
7.

Industrial paddle agitators turn at the speed of

A. 20 and 150 rpm
B. 150 and 300 rpm
C. 400 and 800 rpm
D. 1150 rpm
Answer» B. 150 and 300 rpm
8.

The main function of the dimples provided in the cooling jacket is to

A. increase the level of turbulence of the cooling water in the jacket
B. increase the residence time of the cooling water in the jacket
C. increase the cooling water-jacket wall boundary layer size
D. all of the above
Answer» B. increase the residence time of the cooling water in the jacket
9.

The advantage of axial flow impellers over radial flow impellers is that axial flow impellers

A. provide better lift of solids
B. provide high shear conditions
C. provide low shear conditions
D. are cheaper to build
Answer» B. provide high shear conditions
10.

Axial flow impellers

A. provide high shear conditions for breaking up bubbles
B. provide low shear conditions and are suited for use in shear sensitive procesess
C. provide direct flow towards the walls of the reactor
D. none of the above
Answer» C. provide direct flow towards the walls of the reactor
11.

Reynolds (Rei) number for the impeller is given by (where Di, stirrer diameter; N, stirrer speed, ρ, density of fluid and μ, viscosity of fluid)

A. DiVρ/μ
B. Di2Nρ/μ
C. Di2Vρ/μ
D. DiNρ /μ
Answer» C. Di2Vρ/μ
12.

Bioreactors, where vortex is formed, another dimensionless number, __________ is useful.

A. Stanton
B. Rayleigh
C. Bond
D. Froude
Answer» E.
13.

What is the effect of the concentration of dissolved salts and sugars on the oxygen transfer rate?

A. The saturation concentration of oxygen in the medium decreases with the concentration of dissolved salts and sugars, leading to a lower oxygen transfer rate
B. The KLa of the medium decreases with the concentration of dissolved salts and sugars, leading to a lower oxygen transfer rate
C. The KLa of the medium increases with the concentration of dissolved salts and sugars, leading to a lower oxygen transfer rate
D. None of the above
Answer» B. The KLa of the medium decreases with the concentration of dissolved salts and sugars, leading to a lower oxygen transfer rate
14.

The Intermig impeller is

A. an axial flow impeller which can be used for the culture of aerobic organisms
B. directed upwards rather than towards the base of the reactor
C. a fork shaped extensions to the impeller facilitate bubble break up
D. All of the above
Answer» E.
15.

A fermentation system has a KLa of 3 s­¹ and a C0* of 5 ppm of O₂. If the bulk liquid is saturated with oxygen then the oxygen transfer rate will be equal to

A. zero
B. 3 mg.l­¹.s­¹
C. 5 mg.l­¹.s­¹
D. 15 mg.l­¹.s­¹
Answer» B. 3 mg.l­¹.s­¹
16.

If the stirring speed increased from 300 to 500 rpm leads to an increase in the reaction rate by two folds. Then it may be concluded that

A. the reaction was mass transfer limited at 300 rpm
B. the reaction was mass transfer limited at 500 rpm
C. the reaction did not involve any mass transfer step
D. the movement of molecules in the reactor at 300 rpm occurred due to diffusion alone
Answer» B. the reaction was mass transfer limited at 500 rpm
17.

In aerobic microorganisms cultures radial flow impellers are used because

A. they provide energy efficient high turbulent mixing conditions
B. they provide low shear mixing conditions
C. they provide high shear mixing conditions
D. they ensure that bubble size is maximized leading to high oxygen transfer rates
Answer» D. they ensure that bubble size is maximized leading to high oxygen transfer rates
18.

The volume of liquid (VL) in a cylindrical reactor can be calculated from the liquid height (HL) and tank diameter (Dt) using the following equation

A. VL = 4/3 x π x HL x Dt³/8
B. VL= HL x π x Dt²/4
C. VL= HL x π x Dt²
D. VL = 4 x π x Dt²
Answer» C. VL= HL x π x Dt²
19.

The oxygen uptake requirements of a microbial population is characterized by the following parameters: μm = 0.2 h­¹, K0 = 0.2 mg O₂.l­¹, Y0 = 0.5 mg dry weight/mg O₂ and C0,crit=0.8 mg.l­¹ The required concentration of cells is 1000 mg.l­¹ and the saturation oxygen concentration of the medium is 5.8 mg.l­¹. The required KLa must be greater than

A. 64 h­¹
B. 32 h­¹
C. 16 h­¹
D. 8h­¹
Answer» B. 32 h­¹
20.

Penetration theory assumes that turbulent eddies travel from the bulk of the phase to the interface where they remain constant for a constant exposure time (te). The model correlating KL, mass transfer coefficient and DAB, diffusivity can be expressed as

A. KL = 2(DAB/πte)^0.25
B. KL = 2(DAB/πte)^0.5
C. KL = 2(DAB/πte)^0.75
D. KL = 2(DAB/πte)
Answer» C. KL = 2(DAB/πte)^0.75
21.

Which of the following impeller is used in situation where strong vertical currents are desirable for suspending heavily particles?

A. Propeller
B. Paddle
C. Turbine
D. None of these
Answer» B. Paddle
22.

In a tall reactor, oxygen transfer rates will be

A. highest at the surface of the reactor
B. highest at the base of the reactor
C. highest in the middle of the reactor
D. the same throughout the reactor
Answer» C. highest in the middle of the reactor
23.

Power number is expressed as

A. P₀ / N²Di³ρ
B. P₀ / N³Di⁵ρ
C. P₀ / N³Di³ρ
D. P₀ / N²Di²ρ
Answer» C. P₀ / N³Di³ρ
24.

Surface renewal theory predicts that the mass transfer coefficient is

A. directly proportional to the square root of the molecular diffusivity
B. inversely proportional to the square root of the molecular diffusivity
C. directly proportional to the cube root of the molecular diffusivity
D. indirectly proportional to the cube root of the molecular diffusivity
Answer» B. inversely proportional to the square root of the molecular diffusivity
25.

When liquid is pumped through cooling coil in a stirred tank reactor to cool. Which of the following is not correct?

A. If the stirrer speed is increased, the rate will be faster
B. Baffles in the tank will increase the rate of cooling
C. Faster cooling rates at a slower rate of pumping
D. Faster cooling rates at a faster rate of pumping
Answer» D. Faster cooling rates at a faster rate of pumping
26.

Transient flow range of mixing speed is obtained for

A. Rei<10
B. 10<Rei<104
C. Rei>10⁴
D. None of these
Answer» C. Rei>10⁴
27.

Why vortexing is undesirable in the agitation of biological systems?

A. The collision between the cells, impeller and air bubbles will lead to cell damage
B. Poor mixing despite the use of high stirrer speeds
C. Mixing will not be in the turbulent region
D. All of the above
Answer» E.
28.

In a two-phase system where the continuous phase remains in place, the gas hold up can be expressed as (where Vs and Vt are the superficial gas velocity and bubble rise velocity)

A. H = Vs/(Vs-Vt)
B. H = Vs/(Vs+ Vt)
C. H = Vs/(Vs.Vt)
D. H = (Vs+Vt)/Vs
Answer» C. H = Vs/(Vs.Vt)
29.

In the bubble boundary layer, oxygen concentration can be determined by measuring

A. the steady state oxygen concentration in a mixed aerated reactor before inoculation
B. the steady state oxygen concentration in a mixed aerated reactor after inoculation
C. the steady state oxygen concentration in the boundary layer using a micro-probe
D. volume of oxygen supplied
Answer» B. the steady state oxygen concentration in a mixed aerated reactor after inoculation
30.

The average fractional gas hold up (H) can be given as (where Zf and Zl are the level of aerated and clear liquid respectively)

A. H = (Zf-Zl)/Zf
B. H = Zf/Zl
C. H = Zf/ZfZl
D. H =(Zf+Zl)/Zf
Answer» B. H = Zf/Zl
31.

Power number is ratio of

A. imposed forced to intertial force
B. bouyant force to inertial force
C. gravitation force to inertial force
D. imposed force to gravitational force
Answer» B. bouyant force to inertial force
32.

Which device is commonly used for measuring the rate of rotation (rpm) of the stirrer shaft?

A. Anemometer
B. Manometer
C. Tachometer
D. Barometer
Answer» D. Barometer
33.

Which of the following number is calculated from the diameter and peripheral speed of the impeller?

A. Reynolds number
B. Froude number
C. Power number
D. None of these
Answer» B. Froude number
34.

Laminar flow range of mixing speed is obtained for

A. Rei<10
B. 10<Rei<104
C. Rei>104
D. None of these
Answer» B. 10<Rei<104
35.

What is/are the major difference(s) between disc and turbine type stirrer?

A. Blades in disc type are projected out beyond the edge of disc while blades are curved one in turbine type
B. Turbine type requires 50 % less air than disc type for the same yield and energy consumption
C. Both (a) and (b)
D. Number of blades in the stirrer
Answer» D. Number of blades in the stirrer
36.

The reason of using a flat disk in a Turbine is

A. to create high shear conditions
B. to break up bubbles more efficiently than the impeller blades
C. to ensure that the bulk of the energy consumption occurs at the blades
D. all of the above
Answer» D. all of the above
37.

At 25°C, the saturation concentration of oxygen in water is 1.26 mmol/l and the partial pressure of oxygen is 1 atm. The Henry's law constant will be

A. 0.793atml/mmol
B. 0.207atml/mmol
C. 1.26 atml/mmol
D. 8.74 atml/mmol
Answer» B. 0.207atml/mmol
38.

In a bioreactor, if at a particular time the oxygen transfer rate is 23 kg.h­¹, then the oxygen uptake will be

A. 23 kg.h­¹
B. less than 23 kg.h­¹
C. greater than 23 kg.h­¹
D. 2.3 kg.h­¹
Answer» B. less than 23 kg.h­¹
39.

Which of the following type(s) of stirrer can be used for microbiological processes?

A. Mig
B. Intermig
C. Turbine
D. All of these
Answer» E.
40.

Oxygen transfer rate is increased with an increase in the stirrer speed in aerated bioreactor because

A. it decrease the bubble size
B. it decreases the size of the boundary layer surrounding a bubble
C. it increases the rate of movement of oxygen molecules through the bulk liquid
D. all of the above
Answer» E.
41.

For aerated mixing vessels in an aqueous solution, the mass transfer coefficient (kL) co-relating power consumption (Pm) and fermenter volume (V) can be expressed as

A. kL ∝ (Pm/V)0.33
B. kL ∝ (Pm/V)0.66
C. kL ∝ (Pm/V)0.50
D. kL ∝ (Pm/V)
Answer» B. kL ∝ (Pm/V)0.66
42.

Which of the following model holds correct for the two-film theory? (where KL is the mass transfer coefficient, DAB diffusivity and Zf film thickness)

A. KL = DAB/Zf
B. KL = DAB
C. KL = Zf/DAB
D. KL = DAB.Zf
Answer» B. KL = DAB
43.

Turbulent flow range of mixing speed is obtained for

A. Rei<10
B. 10<Rei<10⁴
C. Rei>10⁴
D. None of these
Answer» D. None of these
44.

A higher liquid height will lead to a higher gas hold up by which the oxygen transfer rate will be

A. higher throughout the reactor
B. lower throughout the reactor
C. higher at the base of the reactor
D. lower at the base of the reactor
Answer» D. lower at the base of the reactor
45.

For turbulent flow, Reynolds number is correlated with power number as (where K, a constant which depends on the container geometry and shape of stirrer; Rei, is Reynolds number for agitator; Di, stirrer diameter and N, stirrer speed)

A. Np = K(Rei)­¹
B. Np = N2Di(Rei)­¹
C. Np = K
D. Can't be correlated
Answer» D. Can't be correlated
46.

A fermentation system has a KLa of 3 s­¹ and a C0* of 5 ppm of O₂. If the bulk liquid is completely depleted of oxygen, then the oxygen transfer rate will be equal to

A. zero
B. 15 mg.l­¹.s­¹
C. 10 mg.l­¹.s­¹
D. 5 mg.l­¹.s­¹
Answer» C. 10 mg.l­¹.s­¹
47.

The power required by an agitator operating in a gas-sparged system is

A. lesser than the power required by an impeller in operating at same speed in a gas free system
B. more than the power required by an impeller in operating at same speed in a gas free system
C. same as the power required by an impeller in operating at same speed in a gas free system
D. none of the above
Answer» B. more than the power required by an impeller in operating at same speed in a gas free system
48.

Which of the following impellers generate a flow parallel to the axis of shaft?

A. Axial flow
B. Radial flow
C. Both (a)and(b)
D. None of these
Answer» B. Radial flow
49.

An increase in the heat transfer in the stirred tank reactor will be observed at

A. higher cooling water temperature
B. higher stirrer speed
C. the removal of baffles from the reactor
D. slower stirrer speed
Answer» C. the removal of baffles from the reactor
50.

The addition of antifoams to an aerated bioreactor will decrease oxygen transfer rates because antifoams

A. increase the tendency of bubbles to coalesce
B. tend to accumulate in the gas liquid interface
C. reduce the surface tension of the liquid
D. All of the above answers
Answer» E.