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Application of Biofilm Bioreactors in White Biotechnology

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Productive Biofilms

Part of the book series: Advances in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology ((ABE,volume 146))

Abstract

The production of valuable compounds in industrial biotechnology is commonly done by cultivation of suspended cells or use of (immobilized) enzymes rather than using microorganisms in an immobilized state. Within the field of wastewater as well as odor treatment the application of immobilized cells is a proven technique. The cells are entrapped in a matrix of extracellular polymeric compounds produced by themselves. The surface-associated agglomerate of encapsulated cells is termed biofilm. In comparison to common immobilization techniques, toxic effects of compounds used for cell entrapment may be neglected. Although the economic impact of biofilm processes used for the production of valuable compounds is negligible, many prospective approaches were examined in the laboratory and on a pilot scale. This review gives an overview of biofilm reactors applied to the production of valuable compounds. Moreover, the characteristics of the utilized materials are discussed with respect to support of surface-attached microbial growth.

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Acknowledgments

We wish to thank the German Research Foundation (DFG) for funding under LA 1426/9-1, UL 170/7-1, and SFB 926/1-2013.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Bioprocess Engineering, University of Kaiserslautern, Gottlieb-Daimler-Straße 49, 67663, Kaiserslautern, Germany

    K. Muffler, C. Schlegel, D. Strieth, S. Kuhne & R. Ulber

  2. Experimental Ecology, University of Kaiserslautern, Erwin-Schrödinger-Straße 13, 67663, Kaiserslautern, Germany

    M. Lakatos

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  3. C. Schlegel
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  4. D. Strieth
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  5. S. Kuhne
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  6. R. Ulber
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. Ulber .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Life Sciences and Engineering, University of Applied Sciences Bingen, Bingen, Germany

    Kai Muffler

  2. University of Kaiserslautern Institute of Bioprocess Engineering, Kaiserslautern, Germany

    Roland Ulber

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© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Muffler, K., Lakatos, M., Schlegel, C., Strieth, D., Kuhne, S., Ulber, R. (2014). Application of Biofilm Bioreactors in White Biotechnology. In: Muffler, K., Ulber, R. (eds) Productive Biofilms. Advances in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology, vol 146. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/10_2013_267

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