Dynamic Modeling Using Artificial Neural Network of Bacillus Velezensis Broth Cross-Flow Microfiltration Enhanced by Air-Sparging and Turbulence Promoter.

Aleksandar Jokić,Nataša Lukić,Vanja Vlajkov,Nevenka Nikolić,Ivana Pajčin,Bojana Ikonić,Jovana Grahovac

doi:10.3390/membranes10120372

Abstract

Cross-flow microfiltration is a broadly accepted technique for separation of microbial biomass after the cultivation process. However, membrane fouling emerges as the main problem affecting permeate flux decline and separation process efficiency. Hydrodynamic methods, such as turbulence promoters and air sparging, were tested to improve permeate flux during microfiltration. In this study, a non-recurrent feed-forward artificial neural network (ANN) with one hidden layer was examined as a tool for microfiltration modeling using Bacillus velezensis cultivation broth as the feed mixture, while the Kenics static mixer and two-phase flow, as well as their combination, were used to improve permeate flux in microfiltration experiments. The results of this study have confirmed successful application of the ANN model for prediction of permeate flux during microfiltration of Bacillus velezensis cultivation broth with a coefficient of determination of 99.23% and absolute relative error less than 20% for over 95% of the predicted data. The optimal ANN topology was 5-13-1, trained by the Levenberg–Marquardt training algorithm and with hyperbolic sigmoid transfer function between the input and the hidden layer.

Highlights

Bacillus velezensis, a species of the genus Bacillus [1], has been extensively studied in recent years due to its remarkable biocontrol qualities against different plant pathogenic bacteria and fungi [2].Besides an ability to produce large number of metabolites responsible for its antibacterial and antifungal activity, such as lipopeptides [3], enzymes [4] and volatile organic compounds [5], biomass of Bacillus velezensis could be successfully utilized as a biocontrol agent [6,7]
Since multiplication of bacterial biomass is predominantly performed in a liquid culture, separation of bacterial biomass from the cultivation broth is of a great importance
The modes of the operation include the use of hydrodynamic methods for flux decline lessening

Summary

Introduction

A species of the genus Bacillus [1], has been extensively studied in recent years due to its remarkable biocontrol qualities against different plant pathogenic bacteria and fungi [2].Besides an ability to produce large number of metabolites responsible for its antibacterial and antifungal activity, such as lipopeptides [3], enzymes [4] and volatile organic compounds [5], biomass of Bacillus velezensis could be successfully utilized as a biocontrol agent [6,7]. A species of the genus Bacillus [1], has been extensively studied in recent years due to its remarkable biocontrol qualities against different plant pathogenic bacteria and fungi [2]. Since multiplication of bacterial biomass is predominantly performed in a liquid culture, separation of bacterial biomass from the cultivation broth is of a great importance. Membrane separation processes such as microfiltration are gaining interest as an alternative to conventional separation processes and recently it has become the mainstream separation techniques used for cell harvesting and broth clarification [8]. Sustainability issues dominating today’s industry have contributed to the shift from chemical synthesis processes to biotechnology production in numerous branches of industry, so the membrane-based separations have become very promising unit operations [9].

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Conclusion