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High cell density ethanol fermentation in an upflow packed-bed cell recycle bioreactor

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Abstract

An upflow packed-bed cell recycle bioreactor (IUPCRB) is proposed for obtaining a high cell density. The system is comprised of a stirred tank bioreactor in which cells are retained partially by a packed-bed. A 1.3 cm (ID) × 48 cm long packed-bed was installed inside a 2 L bioreactor (working volume 1 L). Continuous ethanol fermentation was carried out using a 100 g/L glucose solution containing Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ATCC 24858). Cell retention characteristics were investigated by varying the void fraction (VF) of the packed bed by packing it with particles of 0.8∼2.0 mm sized stone, cut hollow fiber pieces, ceramic, and activated carbon particles. The best results were obtained using an activated carbon bed with a VF of 30∼35%. The IUPCRB yielded a maximum cell density of 87 g/L, an ethanol concentration of 42 g/L, and a productivity of 21 g/L/h when a 0.5 h−1 dilution rate was used. A natural bleeding of cells from the filter bed occurred intermittently. This cell loss consisted of an average of 5% of the cell concentration in the bioreactor when a high cell concentration (approximately 80 g/L) was being maintained.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 305-701, Korea

    Ho Nam Chang, Byoung Jin Kim, Jong Won Kang, Chang Moon Jeong & Nag-Jong Kim

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 702-701, Korea

    Joong Kon Park

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  1. Ho Nam Chang
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  2. Byoung Jin Kim
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  3. Jong Won Kang
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  4. Chang Moon Jeong
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Correspondence to Ho Nam Chang.

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Chang, H.N., Kim, B.J., Kang, J.W. et al. High cell density ethanol fermentation in an upflow packed-bed cell recycle bioreactor. Biotechnol Bioproc E 13, 123–135 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12257-008-0004-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12257-008-0004-9

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