title: Syngas fermentation to biofuel: evaluation of carbon monoxide mass transfer and analytical modeling using a composite hollow fiber (CHF) membrane bioreactor.
abstract: In this study, the volumetric mass transfer coefficients (Ka) for CO were examined in a composite hollow fiber (CHF) membrane bioreactor. The mass transfer experiments were conducted at various inlet gas pressures (from 5 to 30 psig (34.5-206.8 kPa(g))) and recirculation flow rates (300, 600, 900, 1200 and 1500 mL/min) through CHF module. The highest Ka value of 946.6 1/h was observed at a recirculation rate of 1500 mL/min and at an inlet gas pressure of 30 psig(206.8 kPa(g)). The findings of this study confirm that the use of CHF membranes is effective and improves the efficiency CO mass transfer into the aqueous phase.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering (MBBE), University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Agricultural Science Building 218, 1955 East-West Road, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA.
authors.forename: Pradeep Chaminda
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Munasinghe
authors.forename: Samir Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Khanal
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels / Q000032:analysis*; D019149:Bioreactors; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D005285:Fermentation; D057446:Hydrodynamics; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008956:Models, Chemical; D011312:Pressure; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012212:Rheology; D014866:Waste Products / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D014866:Waste Products; D002248:Carbon Monoxide