Enhancement of oxygen transfer in highly viscous non-newtonian fermentation broths.
The influence of short draft tubes covered by perforated plates on gas-liquid mass transfer was examined in external-loop airlift bioreactors. The volumetric mass transfer coefficients in a model external-loop airlift bioreactor were measured with water and non-Newtonian media. It was found that introduction of draft tubes covered with perforated plates in the riser significantly improved the mass transfer rate, particularly in higher viscous non-Newtonian fermentation media. The enhancement of mass transfer rate might be due mainly to an increase in bubble coalescence and redispersion.
Kawase
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Biochemical Engineering Research Center, Department of Applied Chemistry, Toyo University, Kawagoe, Saitama 350, Japan.
Tsujimura
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