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Gas hold-up and oxygen mass transfer in three pneumatic bioreactors operating with sugarcane bagasse suspensions

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Abstract

Sugarcane bagasse is a low-cost and abundant by-product generated by the bioethanol industry, and is a potential substrate for cellulolytic enzyme production. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of air flow rate (Q AIR), solids loading (%S), sugarcane bagasse type, and particle size on the gas hold-up (ε G) and volumetric oxygen transfer coefficient (k L a) in three different pneumatic bioreactors, using response surface methodology. Concentric tube airlift (CTA), split-cylinder airlift (SCA), and bubble column (BC) bioreactor types were tested. Q AIR and  %S affected oxygen mass transfer positively and negatively, respectively, while sugarcane bagasse type and particle size (within the range studied) did not influence k L a. Using large particles of untreated sugarcane bagasse, the loop-type bioreactors (CTA and SCA) exhibited higher mass transfer, compared to the BC reactor. At higher  %S, SCA presented a higher k L a value (0.0448 s−1) than CTA, and the best operational conditions in terms of oxygen mass transfer were achieved for  %S < 10.0 g L−1 and Q AIR > 27.0 L min−1. These results demonstrated that pneumatic bioreactors can provide elevated oxygen transfer in the presence of vegetal biomass, making them an excellent option for use in three-phase systems for cellulolytic enzyme production by filamentous fungi.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful for the financial support provided by FAPESP (São Paulo State Research Foundation, processes 2008/56246-0 and 2011/23807-1) and the Brazilian agencies CAPES and CNPq.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Federal University of São Carlos, C.P. 676, São Carlos, SP, 13565-905, Brazil

    M. N. Esperança, F. M. Cunha, T. C. Zangirolami & A. C. Badino

  2. Embrapa Instrumentation, Rua XV de Novembro 1452, São Carlos, SP, 13560-970, Brazil

    F. M. Cunha & C. S. Farinas

  3. Department of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering, Federal University of São João Del-Rey, C.P. 131, Ouro Branco, MG, 36420-000, Brazil

    M. O. Cerri

Authors
  1. M. N. Esperança
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  2. F. M. Cunha
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  3. M. O. Cerri
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  4. T. C. Zangirolami
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  5. C. S. Farinas
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  6. A. C. Badino
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Correspondence to A. C. Badino.

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Esperança, M.N., Cunha, F.M., Cerri, M.O. et al. Gas hold-up and oxygen mass transfer in three pneumatic bioreactors operating with sugarcane bagasse suspensions. Bioprocess Biosyst Eng 37, 805–812 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-013-1049-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-013-1049-5

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