13 - Solid-State Fermentation Bioreactors and Fundamentals

Abstract

Solid-state fermentation (SSF) has advantages, such as lower water use and higher volumetric productivity, over those of submerged fermentation. As a result, SSF technology has drawn increasing attention in the past few decades. In this chapter, different types of SSF bioreactors, including tray, packed-bed, rotating/stirred-drum, fluidized-bed, rocking-drum, and stirred-aerated bioreactors, are discussed. Progress in reactor design, heat and mass transfer, and operational strategies are reviewed. Growth of microorganisms in SSF is also discussed in terms of classification, modeling, and effects on the performance of SSF. Two major challenges in industrial applications of SSF, namely heat transfer on a large scale and quantitative characterization of fungal growth, are also discussed. Future research and development of SSF should focus on high-value fermentation products that can be economically feasible on a relatively small scale. Also, online nondestructive detection methods are desired for the characterization and control of organism growth during SSF processes.