Design and Scale-up of External-Loop Airlift Bioreactor

Abstract

Hydrodynamics and oxygen transfer in external-loop airlift bioreactor were discussed. New models of gas hold-up and volumetric mass transfer coefficient were developed. They are based on the hydrodynamic model in which the similarity between the liquid circulation in airlift bioreactors and the natural convection is considered The models include both cases of Newtonian and non-Newtonian fermentation media. The applicability of the proposed models was examined using the present experimental data obtained in two external-loop airlift bioreactors and the available results in the literature. Reasonable agreement suggests that the proposed models are very useful for the rational design and scale-up of external-loop airlift bioreactors.