You want to supply microorganism in a bioreactor with oxygen; What needs to be considered in...

You want to supply microorganism in a bioreactor with oxygen; What needs to be considered in terms of mass transfer? What are the challenges what the solutions?

Expert Solution

In the aerobic bioreactors, the most crucial part is the low solubility of oxygen in the water. Hence, for any biochemical reaction between the microorganisms and organic materials in the presence of oxygen, the rate of oxygen addition is the rate-limiting step when viewed from the point of mass transfer. The mass transfer coefficient of volumetric transfer of oxygen is usually very low and limits the reactions involved.

The major challenges are as follows:

(1) Low solubility of oxygen in water,

(2) Fermentation processes are usually thermochemical reactions and at elevated temperature, solubililty of oxygen in water is lesser,

(3) for industrial scale production, usually bubble column or airlift bioreactors are more favorable but mass transfer coefficient is usually very low due to limited mass transfer area at bubble surfaces,

(4) high viscosity of liquid phase also reduces the mass transfer coefficient due to low turbulance,

(5) Membrane bioreactors are also encountered the problem of fouling that reduces the effective flow of reactant medium and overall productivity loss is very common.

The possible solutions to those problems are,

(1) Instead of using air circulation in the tank, purified oxygen can be supplied to increase the volumetric flow of oxygen,

(2) The pressure in the bioreactors can be increased to increase the solubility of oxygen in the water,

(3) to increase the mass transfer area, mechanical agitators can be used to break the bubbles in bubble column reactors and more dispersion of oxygen can be achieved,

(4) more mechanical agitation can also be created or circulation rate can be increased to provide better turbulence to the system to increase the mass transfer coefficient in viscous medium,

(5) Temperature of the bioreactors should be controlled using jacketed vessels,

(6) fouling in the membrane bioreactors should be cleaned periodically to increase the mass flow rate.

Amanda K answered 2 years ago

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