DILUTION RATE

Dilution rate is used in the case of bioreactors. It encompasses the topic related to flow of the medium into a container or a vessel. Dilution rate is indirectly related to the concept of fermentation. In fermentation procedures there is usually no application of oxygen gas. Dilution rate is applicable in the case of development or preparation of different cultural mediums. It is also beneficial in the case of planktonic growth. It is the dilution rate that makes the nutrients and minerals available to the plant through the soil by the application of the process of endosmosis. 

Concept of Dilution rate 

The concentrated substrate or minerals and nutrients cannot be easily absorbed by the plants. A steady fast balance between the minerals and nutrients is maintained in order to gain steady balance in the water level. Dilution rate is directly related to the ideals of planktonic growth rate. Planktons are small and microbial plants. This planktonic growth is very useful as it is related to the maintenance of equilibrium between the food chains. Dilution rate is very important and it varies according to the different fields in which it is applied. Dilution rate of soil and minerals in water level is different from that of the dilution rate required for the preparation of cultural mediums in biotechnology or microbiology or from the dilution rate used by pharmacists in medical laboratories for drugs or chemical preparations. 

Formula and Equation of dilution rate 

Dilution rate is variable in external and internal environments. It depends on the size of solute and the solvent or substrate present in the medium. The chemostat technique also helps in the preparation of cultural mediums in the laboratory. Dilution rate is also dependent on plankton or substrate availability. Rapid dilution helps in the process of inflow and outflow of different minerals and nutrients. The residual concentration helps in the process of achievement of steady state in the liquid and solid medium. The formula to calculate dilution rate is M₁V₁=M₂V₂.

In this case M stands for mass and V stands for volume. Series of dilution is related to the calculation of serial dilution factors like M₁V₁+M₂V₂=M₃V₃.

Dilution rate deals with the concentration of solute in the solvent medium. It is also applicable in the case of gases and liquids. This dilution rate is measured in terms of molarity, molality or normality. This relationship can be easily displayed by the help of a simple equation c₁V₁=c₂V₂. In this case c1 refers to initial molarity or concentration, V1 refers to the initial volume, c2 refers to final molarity or concentration and V2 refers to the final volume. 

Application of Dilution rate 

Dilution rate is mainly applicable in the case of substrate dilution; it also helps to accelerate the growth of microbes in water or liquid medium. If the solute present in the solvent is highly concentrated then it will be difficult for the plants and planktons to easily consume them by the implementation of endosmosis procedure. Planktons are the initiator of the food chain. They are the producers and can only utilise the sunlight. They are important because they are autotrophic. Dilution rate of chemical and medical laboratories is different from that of normal capillary water in the soil. Dilution rate helps in the blending of different types of gases in the atmosphere. This dilution rate is related to the concentration of the mass and the volume. It is measured mainly in moles in case of a small amount of solutes. Adding water to the solute is termed as dilution. However, dilution rate is the dilution or blending of the solutes in the solvent or gas within unit time. 

Conclusion 

 A detailed discussion on the dilution rate has been already done, which helps to comprehend the importance or the role of dilution factors in daily life. It plays the key role in the maintenance of balance in the ecological system. The two parameters considered from the calculation of the dilution rate are the concentration/mass of the solution and the volume of the liquid or gas. It is applicable in case of fluids. Improper balance in the dilution rate will lead to the disturbance in the ecological balance of nature. It helps the planktonic growth as well. Endosmosis and exosmosis are related to the increase or decrease of dilution rate in the environment. Dilution rate is also related to maintenance of gaseous concentration in the atmosphere.