Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Model-based control of feed rate and illuminance in a photosynthetic fed-batch reactor for H2S removal

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

Abstract

Traditional application of computer to fermentation processes has focused on the measurement and control of parameters such as temperature, pH, vessel pressure, sparge rate, dissolved oxygen, substrate concentration, and product concentration. In a fed-batch reactor with the photosynthetic green sulfur bacterium Chlorobium thiosulfatophilum which converts hydrogen sulfide to elementary sulfur or sulfate, separate measurement of cell mass concentration and sulfur particle concentration turbidimetrically was difficult due to their combined contributions to the total turbidity. Instead of on-line measurement of many process variables, a model-based control of feed rate and illuminance was designed. Optimal operation condition relating feed rate vs. light intensity was obtained to suppress the accumulation of sulfate and sulfide, and to save light energy in a 4-1 photosynthetic fed-batch reactor. This relation was correlated with the inreasing cell mass concentration. A model which describes the cell growth by considering the light attenuation effects due to scattering and absorption, and to crowding effect of the cells, was established beforehand with the results from the experiments. Based on these optimal operating conditions and the cell growth model, automatic controls of feed rate and illuminance were carried out alternatively to the traditional application of computer to fermentation with on-line measurement, realtime response and adjustment of process variables.

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

F ml/min:

Flow rate of gas mixture

hV lux:

Average illuminance

Q mmol/(l h):

Removal rate of hydrogen sulfide

X mg protein/l:

Cell mass concentration as protein

X 0 mg protein/l:

Initial cell mass concentration

X m mg protein/l:

Maximum cell mass concentration

μ a h−1 :

Apparent specific growth rate

References

  1. Sublette, K. L.; Sylvester, N. D.: Oxidation of hydrogen sulfide by Thiobacillus denitrificans: Desulfurization of natural gas. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 29 (1987) 249–257

    Google Scholar 

  2. Buisman, C. J. N.; Geraats, B. G.; Ijspeert, P.; Lettinga, G.: Optimization of sulphur production in a biotechnological sulphideremoving reactor. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 35 (1990) 50–56.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Cork, D. J.; Garunas, R.; Sajjad, A.: Chlorobium limicola forma thiosulfatophilum: Biocatalyst in the production of sulfur and organic carbon from a gas stream containing H2S and CO2. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 45 (1983) 913–918.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Kim, B. W.; Chang, H. N.: Removal of hydrogen sulfide by Chlorobium thiosulfatophilum in immobilized-cell and sulfursettling free-cell recycle reactors. Biotechnol. Progr. 7 (1991) 495–510

    Google Scholar 

  5. Kim, B. W.; Kim, I. K.; Chang, H. N.: Bioconversion of hydrogen sulfide by free and immobilized cells of Chlorobium thiosulfatophilum. Biotechnol. Lett. 12 (1990) 381–386

    Google Scholar 

  6. Kim, B. W.; Kim, E. H.; Chang, H. N.: Application of light emitting diodes as a light source to a photosynthetic culture of Chlorobium thiosulfatophilum. Biotechnol. Tech. 5 (1991) 343–348

    Google Scholar 

  7. Kim, B. W.; Chang, H. N.; Kim, I. K.; Lee, K. S.: Growth kinetics of the photosynthetic bacterium Chlorobium thiosulfatophilum in a fed-batch reactor. Biotechnol. Bioeng. (1992, accepted)

  8. Fuchs, G.; Stupperich, E.; Jaenchen, R.: Autotrophic CO2 fixation in Chlorobium limicola. Arch. Microbiol. 128 (1980) 56–63

    Google Scholar 

  9. Bradford, M. M.: A rapid and sensitive method for the quantification of microgram quantities of protein utilizing the principle of protein dye binding. Anal. Chem. 72 (1976) 248–254

    Google Scholar 

  10. Greenberg, A. E.; Connors, J. J.; Jenkins, D. (Eds.): Standard method for the examination of water and wastewater. 15th edition. American Public Health Association, Washington (1981) 439–450

    Google Scholar 

  11. Truepper, H. G.; Hathaway, J. C.: Orthorhombic sulphur formed by photosynthetic sulfur bacteria. Nature 215 (1967) 435–436

    Google Scholar 

  12. Lee, H. Y.; Erickson, L. E.; Yang, S. S.: Kinetics and bioenergetics of light limited photoautotrophic growth of Spirulina platenis. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 29 (1987) 832–843

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environment System Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Daeduk Science Town, P.O. Box 7, 305-353, Taejon, Korea

    B. W. Kim &  E. H. Kim

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering and Bioprocess Engineering Research Center, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daeduk Science Town, 305-701, Taejon, Korea

    S. C. Lee &  H. N. Chang

Authors
  1. B. W. Kim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. E. H. Kim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. S. C. Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. H. N. Chang
    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

Kim, B.W., Kim, E.H., Lee, S.C. et al. Model-based control of feed rate and illuminance in a photosynthetic fed-batch reactor for H2S removal. Bioprocess Engineering 8, 263–269 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00369839

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00369839

Keywords

Search

Navigation