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Foaming and its Control in Bioprocesses

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Recent Advances in Biotechnology

Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((NSSE,volume 210))

Abstract

Control of foaming in bioprocesses presents a dilemna, since a highly surface active heterogeneous system has to be adequately aerated and agitated while the bioreaction is proceeding without interruption. This paper deals with mechanisms of foam formation and destruction, causes and effects of foaming in bioprocesses and different methods of foam destruction and prevension. Special emphasis is given to chemical antifoaming agents and to the determination of their efficiencies. Important criteria for the choice of a suitable antifoaming agent are discussed. It is concluded that foam suppression or collapse is a result of a fine balance between the effects of various surface active agents. Therefore, in choosing and employing an antifoaming agent, the aim, foam suppression or collapse, should be well defined and the interactions between biomedia and the antifoaming agent should be experimentally determined. Finally, a few suggestions for future research are mentioned.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Engineering, Dept. of Chemical Engineering, Ege University, 35100, Bornova, Izmir, Turkey

    F. Vardar-Sukan

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  1. F. Vardar-Sukan
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey

    Fazilet Vardar-Sukan

  2. Biotechnology Centre and Department of Food Engineering, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey

    Ş. Suha Sukan

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© 1992 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Vardar-Sukan, F. (1992). Foaming and its Control in Bioprocesses. In: Vardar-Sukan, F., Sukan, Ş.S. (eds) Recent Advances in Biotechnology. NATO ASI Series, vol 210. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-2468-3_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-2468-3_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-5089-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-2468-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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