A practical guide for optimal designs of experiments in the Monod model

The Monod model is a classical microbiological model much used in microbiology, for example to evaluate biodegradation processes. The model describes microbial growth kinetics in batch culture experiments using three parameters: the maximal specific growth rate, the saturation constant and the yield coefficient. However, identification of these parameter values from experimental data is a challenging problem. Recently, it was shown theoretically that the application of optimal design theory in this model is an efficient method for both parameter value identification and economic use of experimental resources (Dette et al., 2003). The purpose of this paper is to provide this method as a computational ”tool” such