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Conception and characterization of a continuous plug flow bioreactor

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Abstract

This report describes the design and use of a new type of Continuous Plug Flow Reactor (CPFR). The reactor comprises a continuous glass tube (diameter of 19 mm) arranged into a spiral (0.4 m external diameter) consisting of five loops, which rotate around an axle. The CPFR has advantages over other reactors in that continuous fermentation is possible without dilution of the culture and biomass or metabolite yield is increased. In addition temperature and water activity may be adjusted to a different optimum level for each physiological stage of the cultivated microorganism.

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Abbreviations

a (m2):

specific surface of the transfer

c (cell ml−1):

cellular concentration at t time

c 0 (cell ml−1):

cellular concentration at t=0

c ex (kg m−3):

output concentration of compound i

c in (kg m−3):

input concentration of compound i

C 0 (g l−1):

concentration of methylene blue at t=0

C ex (gl−1):

concentration of methylene blue at t time

D (h−1):

dilution rate of the reactor

F (m3 s−1):

volumetric flow rate

F ex (m3 s−1):

output volumetric flow rate

F in (m3 s−1):

input volumetric flow rate

k L(m−2 s−1):

mass transfer coefficient of O2

O (mol l−1):

O2 concentration in the liquid

O ⋆eff (moll−1):

effective O2 concentration at saturation

r i(kg m−1s−1):

rate of production of compound i

t (s):

time

¯t (s):

theoretical mean residence time of the dye in a loop

t s(s):

experimental residence time of the dye in a loop

V (m3):

liquid volume in one loop for this plug flow reactor or reaction volume for a usual reactor

v z(m s−1):

apparent flow velocity

z (m):

coordinate

μ (h−1):

mean growth rate

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Génie des Procédés Alimentaires et Biotechnologiques, Ensbana, 1 Esplanade Erasme, 21000, Dijon, France

    B. Tisseyre & P. Gervais

  2. Bd Olivier de Serres, Enesad, 21800, Quetigny, France

    J. C. Coquille

Authors
  1. B. Tisseyre
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  2. J. C. Coquille
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  3. P. Gervais
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Tisseyre, B., Coquille, J.C. & Gervais, P. Conception and characterization of a continuous plug flow bioreactor. Bioprocess Eng. 13, 113–118 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00369693

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00369693

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