Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Oxygen transfer in a stirred loop fermentor with dilute polymer solutions

  • Originals
  • Published:
Bioprocess Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Oxygen transfer in a 0.35 m diameter stirred loop fermentor (a stirred tank with a concentric draft tube) has been studied with water containing a small amount of polymer(polyethylene oxide) as a drag-reducing additive.

Power consumption was measured. It was found that the addition of polyethylene oxide causes an increase of power consumption. This is contrary to the results reported in the literature.

Volumetric mass transfer coefficients (K La) were measured. In water the introduction of the draft tube increased the K La coefficient. The increase in K La became larger with impeller speed. On the other hand, mass transfer in dilute polymer solutions decreased due to the presence of the draft tube. An empirical correlation has been proposed for the volumetric mass transfer coefficient in stirred loop fermentors. It has a general applicability.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

a 1/m:

specific surface area

C :

constant in Eq. (6)

g m/s2 :

gravitational acceleration

K L m/s:

overall liquid-phase mass transfer coefficient

n 1/s:

impeller speed

P W:

aerated power input by mechanical agitation

P g W:

power input by sparged air

Q m3/min:

volumetric gas flow rate

U sg m/s:

superficial gas velocity

V m3 :

liquid volume

α β γ :

exponents in Eq. (3)

γ′ :

exponent in Eq. (6)

ϱ kg/m3 :

density

References

  1. Einsele, A.; Karrer, D.: Design and characterization of completely filled stirred bioreactor. European J. Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 9 (1980) 83–91

    Google Scholar 

  2. Keitel, G.; Onken, U.: Gas-liquid mass transfer in a stirred loop reactor. Ger. Chem. Eng. 4 (1981) 250–258

    Google Scholar 

  3. Sleichter, P.: Power input of aerated agitator system of high-speed fermenter. Collec. Czech. Chem. Commun. 52 (1987) 2181–2187

    Google Scholar 

  4. Sleichter, P.: Oxygen transfer in high-speed fermenter under steady cultivation conditions. 52 (1987) 2654–2663

    Google Scholar 

  5. Elmayergi, H.; Scharer, J. M.; Moo-Young, M.: Effects of polymer additives on fermentation parameters in a culture of A. niger. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 15 (1973) 845–859

    Google Scholar 

  6. Elmayergi, H.; Moo-Young, M.: Effect of a polymer additive on mass transfer into mold pellets. Biotechnol. Bioeng. Symp. 4 (1973) 507–512

    Google Scholar 

  7. Quraishi, A. W.; Mashelkar, R. A.; Ulbrecht, J. J.: Torque suppression in mechanically stirred liquids and multiphase liquid systems. J. Non-Newtonian Fluid Mech. 1 (1976) 223–245

    Google Scholar 

  8. Quraishi, A. Q.; Mashelkar, R. A.; Ulbrecht, J. J.: Influence of drag reducing additives on mixing and dispersing in agitated vessels. A.I.Ch.E. J. 23 (1977) 487–492

    Google Scholar 

  9. Ranade, V. R.; Ulbrecht, J. J.: Influence of polymer additives on the gas-liquid mass transfer in stirred tanks. A.I.Ch.E. J. 24 (1977) 796–803

    Google Scholar 

  10. Joshi, J. B.; Kale, D. D.: Effect of drag reducing additives on mass transfer characteristics of gas-liquid contactors-gas inducing contactors. Chem. Eng. Commun. 3 (1979) 15–19

    Google Scholar 

  11. Ogut, A.; Hatch, R. T.: Oxygen transfer into Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids in mechanically agitated vessels. 66 (1988) 79–85

    Google Scholar 

  12. Shah, Y. T.; Kelkar, B. G.; Godbole, S. P.; Deckwer, W.-D.: Design parameters estimations for bubble column reactors. A.I.Ch.E. J. 28 (1982) 353–379

    Google Scholar 

  13. van't Riet, K.: Review of measuring methods and results in nonviscous gas-liquid mass transfer in stirred vessels. Ind. Eng. Chem. Process Des. Dev. 18 (1979) 357–364

    Google Scholar 

  14. Kawase, Y.; Moo-Young, M.: Influence of non-Newtonian flow behaviour on mass transfer in bubble columns with and without draft tubes. Chem. Eng. Commun. 40 (1986) 67–83

    Google Scholar 

  15. Lee, Y. H.; Luk, S.: Aeration. Ann. Rep. Fermentation Processes 6 (1983) 101–147

    Google Scholar 

  16. Moo-Young, M.; Blanch, H. W.: Design of biochemical reactors, mass transfer criteria for simple and complex systems. Adv. Biochem. 19 (1981) 1–69

    Google Scholar 

  17. Smith, J. M.; van't Riet, K.; Middleton, J. C.: Scale up of agitated gas-liquid reactors for mass transfer. Proc. 2nd. European Conf. on Mixing 1977

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemical Engineering Group Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hosei University, Koganei, 184, Tokyo, Japan

    S. Kura &  H. Nishiumi

  2. Department of Applied Chemistry, Toyo University, Kawagoe, 350, Saitama, Japan

    Y. Kawase

Authors
  1. S. Kura
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. H. Nishiumi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Y. Kawase
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kura, S., Nishiumi, H. & Kawase, Y. Oxygen transfer in a stirred loop fermentor with dilute polymer solutions. Bioprocess Engineering 8, 223–228 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00369833

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00369833

Keywords

Search

Navigation