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

The Monod model is a classical microbiological model often used in environmental sciences, 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 demonstrated 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, H., Melas, V.B., Pepelyshev, A., Strigul, N., 2003. Efficient design of experiments in the Monod model. J. R. Stat. Soc. B 65 (Part 3), 725–742]. The purpose of this paper is to provide this method as a computational “tool” such that it can be used by practitioners without a strong mathematical and statistical background for the efficient design of experiments in the Monod model. The paper presents careful explanations of the principal theoretical concepts, and a simple algorithm for practical optimal design calculations.