The maximum solubility of the alkane in the medium is 5 ppm. If the actual dissolved concentration of the alkane in the medium is 1 ppm. what conclusion may be drawn?

• The growth rate is limited by the rate of mass transfer of the alkane into the fermentation medium
• The growth rate is limited by the intrinsic kinetic properties of the cells and not by mass transfer
• The growth rate is neither mass transfer nor kinetically limited
• No conclusion on the growth rate can be withdrawn