Determination of oxygen permeability and volumetric oxygen transfer rate of shaken flasks

The oxygen permeability passing through the gauze layer and the actual and apparent volumetric oxygen transfer rate, KLa and (KLa)app, respectively, were determined in specially designed Erlenmeyer flasks, which have an oxygen electrode inserted in the middle part of flasks. The oxygen transfer rate was determined by sulfite oxidation. As a result, the oxygen permeability passing through 8 layers of gauze at 37 degrees C, 220 rpm, with 50 ml sulfite solution in a 500-ml flask was 43.7 mol/m.h atm; as the oxygen partial pressure decreased by 6.1%, the value of KLa increased by 100%; the relationship between rotational speed of shaker, n(rpm); volume of flask, V(ml); liquid content in flask, VL(ml); temperature of shaker, t(degrees C) and KLa, as well as (KLa)app (1/h) were: [formula: see text]