Mass transfers in a fluidized bed bioreactor using alginate beads for a future bioartificial liver

Fluidized bed bioreactor with alginate beads may be an alternative to hollow fiber cartridge to host hepatocytes for bioartificial liver purposes. After the bioreactor design and the characterization of fluid mechanics, the present study was aimed at analyzing bi-directional mass transfers of calibrated species between external fluid and empty beads. Static (batch) and dynamic (fluidized bed bioreactor) experimental conditions were analyzed. A simple modelling approach permitted the definition of mass transfer coefficients. The motion of beads within the bioreactor clearly enhanced mass transfer kinetics, but did not alter the amount exchanged. The shear enhanced diffusion coefficient for VitB12 was 20 times higher in the fluidized bed bioreactor than under batch conditions, proving the efficiency of such a device.