Dialysis continuous process for ammonium-lactate fermentation of whey: mathematical model and computer simulation

Area of Science:

• Biochemical Engineering
• Process Modeling
• Industrial Biotechnology

Background:

• Whey, a dairy byproduct, contains lactose suitable for fermentation.
• Continuous fermentation offers advantages over batch processes for industrial applications.
• Lactic acid production from whey is an economically viable valorization strategy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a mathematical model for a continuous dialysis fermentation process.
• To describe the conversion of whey lactose to lactic acid using ammonia neutralization.
• To evaluate the efficiency and parameters of the described fermentation system.

Main Methods:

• Development of a mathematical model based on material balances and rate equations.
• Modeling of two interconnected circuits: fermentor and dialysate.
• Simulation of the generalized model using dimensionless parameters on a digital computer.

Main Results:

• The model accurately described the continuous fermentation and dialysis process.
• Simulations revealed the impact of operational, material, and kinetic parameters.
• The process was predicted to be operated efficiently for lactic acid and ammonium lactate production.

Conclusions:

• A generalized mathematical model for continuous dialysis fermentation was successfully developed.
• The model enables prediction and optimization of the whey lactose to lactic acid fermentation process.
• The described system offers an efficient route for producing valuable chemicals from dairy waste.