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A Novel Bioreactor for High Density Cultivation of Diverse Microbial Communities
Published on: December 25, 2015
An immobilized cell reactor with simultaneous product separation. I. Reactor design and analysis
M C Dale1, M R Okos, P C Wankat
1Departments of Agricultural and Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47906, USA.
Biotechnology and Bioengineering
|July 1, 1985
Summary
A novel Immobilized Cell Reactor-Separator (ICRS) enhances fermentation productivity by continuously removing volatile products. This gas-phase separation allows for higher substrate concentrations and improved reactor performance.
Area of Science:
- Biochemical Engineering
- Chemical Reaction Engineering
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Fermentations with volatile products face challenges with product inhibition and low yields.
- Continuous product removal is crucial for improving efficiency in bioprocesses.
- Immobilized cell systems offer advantages in cell retention and process control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose and model a four-phase reactor-separator for fermentations with volatile products.
- To evaluate the feasibility and operational parameters of the Immobilized Cell Reactor-Separator (ICRS).
- To compare the productivity of ICRS with conventional Immobilized Cell Reactors (ICR).
Main Methods:
- Development of an equilibrium stage model for the reactor-separator.
- Application of the ICRS concept to ethanol fermentation from whey lactose.
- Creation of a mathematical model for a steady-state, monolayer adsorbed cell population.
Main Results:
- The ICRS model predicts a significant increase in reactor productivity compared to standard ICRs.
- Gas-phase product separation enables fermentation of high inlet substrate concentrations.
- The model identified key operational variables affecting ICRS performance, including temperature, pressure, and gas flow rates.
Conclusions:
- The Immobilized Cell Reactor-Separator (ICRS) is a promising technology for volatile product fermentations.
- ICRS offers enhanced productivity and allows for higher substrate loads, overcoming limitations of traditional reactors.
- Further investigation into operational parameters can optimize ICRS performance for specific bioprocesses.
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