title: Enhanced rhamnolipids production via efficient foam-control using stop valve as a foam breaker.
abstract: In this study, a stop valve was used as a foam breaker for dealing with the massive overflowing foam in rhamnolipid fermentation. As found, a stop valve at its tiny opening could break over 90% of the extremely stable rhamnolipid foam into enriched liquid when foam flows through the sharp gap in valve. The efficient foam-control by the stop valve considerably improved the rhamnolipid fermentation and significantly enhanced the rhamnolipid productivity by 83% compared to the regular fermentation. This efficient foam breaking was mainly achieved by a high shear rate in combination with fast separation of air from the collapsed foam. Altogether, the stop valve possessed a great activity in breaking rhamnolipid foam, and the involving mechanism holds the potential for developing efficient foam breakers for industrial rhamnolipid fermentation.
authors.affiliation: College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, PR China; School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, PR China.
authors.forename: Xuwei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Long
authors.affiliation: College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Chong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, PR China.
authors.forename: Ni
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Institute of Oceanic and Environmental Chemical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Guoliang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, PR China. Electronic address: mengq@zju.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Meng
mesh_terms: D001709:Biotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005285:Fermentation; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000378:metabolism; D055682:Viscoelastic Substances / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D006017:Glycolipids; D055682:Viscoelastic Substances; C418382:rhamnolipid
keywords: Foam breaker; Foam-control; Rhamnolipid; Stop valve