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A Novel Bioreactor for High Density Cultivation of Diverse Microbial Communities

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Published on: December 25, 2015

Hydrodynamics and oxygen transfer in pneumatic bioreactor devices.

M Y Chisti¹, M Moo-Young

¹Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1.

Biotechnology and Bioengineering

|April 5, 1988

Summary

Gas holdup and oxygen transfer in non-Newtonian cellulose fibre suspensions were studied. Bubble columns outperformed internal loop airlifts, with performance decreasing as solid concentration increased.

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Area of Science:

Biochemical Engineering
Fluid Dynamics
Mass Transfer

Background:

Non-Newtonian fluid behavior is common in industrial fermentation broths.
Efficient gas-liquid mass transfer is crucial for aerobic bioprocesses.
Understanding reactor hydrodynamics in non-Newtonian fluids is essential for scale-up.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate gas holdup and oxygen transfer in non-Newtonian cellulose fibre suspensions.
To compare the performance of a bubble column reactor and an internal loop airlift reactor with rectangular cross-sections.
To analyze the effect of solid concentration on gas-liquid mass transfer.

Main Methods:

Experiments were conducted in two large (0.098 m(3)) reactors: a bubble column and an internal loop airlift, both with rectangular cross-sections.
Non-Newtonian suspensions of cellulose fibres, representative of mould fermentation broths, were used.
Gas holdup and oxygen transfer coefficient (k(L)a(L)) were measured under varying solid concentrations.

Main Results:

Gas holdup and the volumetric oxygen transfer coefficient (k(L)a(L)) decreased with increasing solid concentration in both reactor types.
Under identical conditions, the bubble column reactor demonstrated superior performance compared to the internal loop airlift reactor.
The study discusses the behavior of the true mass transfer coefficient (k(L)) in relation to bubble size changes.

Conclusions:

Solid concentration significantly impacts gas holdup and oxygen transfer in non-Newtonian suspensions.
Bubble column reactors are more effective than internal loop airlifts for the studied non-Newtonian systems.
Findings provide valuable insights for designing and optimizing bioreactors handling similar fluid systems.