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Updated: May 10, 2026

A Novel Bioreactor for High Density Cultivation of Diverse Microbial Communities
Published on: December 25, 2015
A two-dimensional mass transfer model for an annular bioreactor using immobilized photosynthetic bacteria for
Chuan Zhang1, Ai-Jun Wang, Quan-Guo Zhang
1Key Laboratory of Renewable Energy of Agricultural Ministry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, China.
Abstract:
A two-dimensional model for substrate transfer and biodegradation in a novel, annular fiber-illuminating bioreactor (AFIBR) is proposed in which photosynthetic bacteria are immobilized on the surface of a side-glowing optical fiber to form a stable biofilm. When excited by light, the desired intensity and uniform light distribution can be obtained within the biofilm zone in bioreactor and then realize continuous hydrogen production. Substrate transfer and biodegradation within the biofilm zone, as well as substrate diffusion and convection within bulk fluid regions are considered simultaneously in this model. The validity of the model is verified experimentally. Based on the model analysis, influences of flow rate and light intensity on the substrate consumption rate and substrate degradation efficiency were investigated. The simulation results show that the optimum operational conditions for the substrate degradation within the AFIBR are: flow rate 100 ml h(-1) and light intensity 14.6 μmol photons m(-2 )s(-1).
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