Evaluating hydrodynamics in a bioreactor with liquid phase dispersion in the gas phase

Abstract

Abstract Bioreactors are used in many biochemical industries to produce commercial life products such as medicines, enzymes, perfumes, paints and antibiotics. In the presented study, a specially shaped bioreactor has been designed, built and operated to increase the mass transfer coefficient. The constructed bioreactor, according to type of microorganisms, can provide high amounts of oxygen or carbon dioxide. Moreover, the manuscript was aimed at investigating the hydrodynamic properties of the bioreactor. The bioreactor was constructed from three parts including shower in upper part, middle section for mass transfer and bottom section as a reservoir. Liquid flow rate, shower holes diameter, aeration velocity and the middle part height of the bioreactor have been studied as factors influencing the hydrodynamics. The results showed that the highest mass transfer coefficient was 30.1 1/h which was achieved when the liquid flow rate, the shower holes diameter, aeration velocity and middle part height of the bioreactor were 280 mL/min, 2 mm, 0.03 vvm and 60 cm, respectively.