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A two-dimensional mass transfer model for an annular bioreactor using immobilized photosynthetic bacteria for hydrogen production

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Abstract

A two-dimensional model for substrate transfer and biodegradation in a novel, annular fiber-illuminating bioreactor (AFIBR) is proposed in which photosynthetic bacteria are immobilized on the surface of a side-glowing optical fiber to form a stable biofilm. When excited by light, the desired intensity and uniform light distribution can be obtained within the biofilm zone in bioreactor and then realize continuous hydrogen production. Substrate transfer and biodegradation within the biofilm zone, as well as substrate diffusion and convection within bulk fluid regions are considered simultaneously in this model. The validity of the model is verified experimentally. Based on the model analysis, influences of flow rate and light intensity on the substrate consumption rate and substrate degradation efficiency were investigated. The simulation results show that the optimum operational conditions for the substrate degradation within the AFIBR are: flow rate 100 ml h−1 and light intensity 14.6 μmol photons m−2 s−1.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 50976029), National High Technology Research and Development Program (863 Program) (No. 2012AA051502), China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (No. 2012M521395), Science and Technology Research Project of Education Department in Henan Province (No. 13B470119) and Doctoral Foundation of NCWU (No. 201028).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Renewable Energy of Agricultural Ministry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, China

    Chuan Zhang & Quan-Guo Zhang

  2. Institute of Electric Power, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou, 450011, China

    Chuan Zhang & Ai-Jun Wang

  3. Key Laboratory of Low-grade Energy Utilization Technologies and Systems, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400030, China

    Chuan Zhang

Authors
  1. Chuan Zhang
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  2. Ai-Jun Wang
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  3. Quan-Guo Zhang
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Correspondence to Quan-Guo Zhang.

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Zhang, C., Wang, AJ. & Zhang, QG. A two-dimensional mass transfer model for an annular bioreactor using immobilized photosynthetic bacteria for hydrogen production. Biotechnol Lett 35, 1579–1587 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-013-1250-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-013-1250-2

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