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A pulsing device for packed-bed bioreactors: II. Application to alcoholic fermentation

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Abstract

When the immobilized cells are employed in packed-bed bioreactors several problems appear. To overcome these drawbacks, a new bioreactor based on the use of pulsed systems was developed [1]. In this work, we study the glucose fermentation by immobilized Saccharomyces cerevisiae in a packed-bed bioreactor. A comparative study was then carried out for continuous fermentation in two packed-bed bioreactors, one of them with pulsed flow. The determination of the axial dispersion coefficients indicates that by introducing the pulsation, the hydraulic behaviour is closer to the plug flow model. In both cases, the residence time tested varied from 0.8 to 2.6 h. A higher ethanol concentration and productivity (increases up to 16%) were achieved with the pulsated reactors. The volumes occupied by the CO2 were 5.22% and 9.45% for fermentation with/without pulsation respectively. An activity test of the particles from the different sections revealed that the concentration and viability of bioparticles from the two bioreactors are similar. From the results we conclude that the improvements of the process are attributable to a mechanical effect rather than to physiological changes of microorganisms.

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Abbreviations

D m2/s:

dispersion coefficient

K is l/g:

inhibition substrate constant

K ip l/g:

inhibition ethanol constant

K s g/l:

Apparent affinity constant

P g/l:

ethanol concentration

q p g/(gh):

specific ethanol productivity

Q p g/(lh):

overall ethanol productivity

q s g/(gh):

specific glucose consumption rate

Q s g/(lh):

glucose consumption rate

S g/l:

residual glucose concentration

S(in0) g/l:

initial glucose concentration

V max g/(lh):

maximum rate

Y p/s g/g:

yield in product

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Vigo, Aptdo 874, E-36200, Vigo, Spain

    A. Sanromán

  2. Chemical Engineering Department, University of Santiago de Compostela, Avenida de las Ciencias s/n, E-15706, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

    E. Roca, M. J. Núñez &  J. M. Lema

Authors
  1. A. Sanromán
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  2. E. Roca
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  3. M. J. Núñez
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  4. J. M. Lema
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Sanromán, A., Roca, E., Núñez, M.J. et al. A pulsing device for packed-bed bioreactors: II. Application to alcoholic fermentation. Bioprocess Engineering 10, 75–81 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00393389

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00393389

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