Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Biofuels

Biofuels

The microbial conversion of organic matter into biofuels holds potential as a renewable energy source. Among biofuel sources, microalgae are recognized as a highly efficient and adaptable feedstock for biodiesel production, owing to their rapid biomass accumulation, elevated lipid productivity, and capacity to proliferate in diverse aquatic systems, including freshwater, marine, and wastewater habitats. Unlike terrestrial crops, microalgae do not compete for land and can achieve significantly...

Bioreactor Design and Operational System

Bioreactor Design and Operational System

Bioreactors are engineered vessels designed to cultivate microorganisms under controlled conditions for industrial bioprocessing. They maintain sterility and allow precise regulation of pH, temperature, oxygen, and nutrient levels to optimize microbial growth and metabolite production. Bioreactors range from small laboratory units of 1 liter to industrial systems holding up to 500,000 liters, though only about 75% of their volume is actively used for fermentation. The remaining headspace...

Bioreactor Controls-II

Bioreactor Controls-II

In aerobic fermentations, oxygen is vital for microbial growth and metabolite production. Since air comprises only about 20% oxygen and the gas is poorly soluble in water—just 9 ppm at 20°C—supplying sufficient oxygen becomes a critical challenge, especially in high-demand processes like yeast growth or citric acid production. Even a fully saturated broth may offer only a few seconds of oxygen availability.To address this, sterile or scrubbed air is introduced into the fermentor via a sparger...

Production of Alcohol

Production of Alcohol

Continuous fermentation is a key strategy in industrial ethanol production, particularly when efficiency, scalability, and high yields are essential. This approach allows for uninterrupted operation and optimized resource utilization. The primary feedstock, corn starch, undergoes enzymatic hydrolysis facilitated by α-amylase and glucoamylase. These enzymes break down the starch into fermentable sugars such as glucose, which are readily assimilated by fermentative microorganisms.Fermentation...

Batch vs Continuous Culture

Batch vs Continuous Culture

Fermentation is a foundational biotechnological process used to produce pharmaceuticals, biofuels, enzymes, and food additives. Among industrial strategies, batch and continuous fermentation are the two most widely applied. Although both rely on microbial conversion of substrates into desired products, they differ markedly in operation, productivity, and suitability for specific applications.Batch fermentation occurs in a closed system in which nutrient media and inoculum are added at the...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same journal

Efficient nitrate removal by photo-assisted microbial denitrification using Fe<sub>x</sub>O<sub>y</sub>/g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>-biofilm hybrid in a coiled flow inverter.

Bioresource technology·2026

Same journal

Lignocellulose precursor regulated radical/non-radical pathways of diclofenac degradation in Fe/biochar activated percarbonate systems.

Bioresource technology·2026

Same journal

Impacts of climate change on greenhouse gas emissions from wastewater: a critical review.

Bioresource technology·2026

Same journal

Upgrading agricultural waste-derived biochemical fulvic acid: fungal co-culture-mediated structural remodeling and enhanced plant biostimulant potential.

Bioresource technology·2026

Same journal

Perfluorobutane sulfonate reshapes microbial metabolism and enhances antibiotic resistance and pathogen dissemination in anammox systems.

Bioresource technology·2026

Same journal

Beyond arsenite: Arsenite-oxidizing prokaryotes drive sulfur compound oxidation.

Bioresource technology·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Laboratory Production of Biofuels and Biochemicals from a Rapeseed Oil through Catalytic Cracking Conversion

Laboratory Production of Biofuels and Biochemicals from a Rapeseed Oil through Catalytic Cracking Conversion

Published on: September 2, 2016

Continuous-flow biodiesel production using slit-channel reactors.

Egwu Eric Kalu¹, Ken S Chen, Tom Gedris

¹FAMU-FSU COE, Chemical & Biomed. Eng. Dept., Tallahassee, FL 32310, USA. ekalu@eng.fsu.edu

Bioresource Technology

|January 25, 2011

Summary

Slit-channel reactors efficiently produce biodiesel from soybean oil, showing increased conversion with channel depth. These reactors offer improved performance and lower costs compared to traditional batch methods.

More Related Videos

A Novel Bioreactor for High Density Cultivation of Diverse Microbial Communities

A Novel Bioreactor for High Density Cultivation of Diverse Microbial Communities

Published on: December 25, 2015

Experimental Protocol for Biodiesel Production with Isolation of Alkenones as Coproducts from Commercial Isochrysis Algal Biomass

Experimental Protocol for Biodiesel Production with Isolation of Alkenones as Coproducts from Commercial Isochrysis Algal Biomass

Published on: June 24, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Laboratory Production of Biofuels and Biochemicals from a Rapeseed Oil through Catalytic Cracking Conversion

Laboratory Production of Biofuels and Biochemicals from a Rapeseed Oil through Catalytic Cracking Conversion

Published on: September 2, 2016

A Novel Bioreactor for High Density Cultivation of Diverse Microbial Communities

A Novel Bioreactor for High Density Cultivation of Diverse Microbial Communities

Published on: December 25, 2015

Experimental Protocol for Biodiesel Production with Isolation of Alkenones as Coproducts from Commercial Isochrysis Algal Biomass

Experimental Protocol for Biodiesel Production with Isolation of Alkenones as Coproducts from Commercial Isochrysis Algal Biomass

Published on: June 24, 2016

Area of Science:

Chemical Engineering
Sustainable Energy

Background:

Microreactors offer high surface areas but are costly.
Slit-channel reactors present a cost-effective alternative with high surface area.
Biodiesel production faces challenges in efficiency and cost.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the performance of slit-channel reactors for biodiesel production.
To investigate the effect of channel depth on soybean oil conversion efficiency.
To compare slit-channel reactors with traditional batch reactors.

Main Methods:

Biodiesel production using soybean oil and a homogeneous catalyst in a slit-channel reactor.
Varying channel depths to assess impact on mixing and conversion.
Comparison of slit-channel reactor performance against batch reactors.

Main Results:

Successful biodiesel production with varying conversion rates.
Increased soybean oil conversion efficiency with greater channel depth due to enhanced mixing.
Slit-channel reactors demonstrated superior performance over batch reactors.
Shallow channels achieved complete conversion with short residence times.

Conclusions:

Slit-channel reactors are effective for biodiesel production, offering advantages over batch reactors.
Channel depth is a critical parameter influencing conversion efficiency.
Future work includes coupling slit-channel reactors with solid catalysts for improved sustainability.