A comparison of mass transfer coefficients between trickle-bed, hollow fiber membrane and stirred tank reactors

作者：Orgill James J; Atiyeh Hasan K^*; Devarapalli Mamatha; Phillips John R; Lewis Randy S; Huhnke Raymond L

来源：Bioresource Technology, 2013, 133: 340-346.

DOI：10.1016/j.biortech.2013.01.124

• Gas fermentation reactors
• Mass transfer
• Stirred tank reactor (STR)
• Trickle-bed reactor (TBR)
• Hollow fiber membrane reactor (HFR)

Trickle-bed reactor (TBR), hollow fiber membrane reactor (HFR) and stirred tank reactor (STR) can be used in fermentation of sparingly soluble gasses such as CO and H-2 to produce biofuels and bio-based chemicals. Gas fermenting reactors must provide high mass transfer capabilities that match the kinetic requirements of the microorganisms used. The present study compared the volumetric mass transfer coefficient (K(tot)A/V-L) of three reactor types; the TBR with 3 mm and 6 mm beads, five different modules of HFRs, and the STR. The analysis was performed using O-2 as the gaseous mass transfer agent. The nonporous polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) HER provided the highest K(tot)A/V-L (1062 h(-1)), followed by the TBR with 6 mm beads (421 h(-1)), and then the STR (114 h(-1)). The mass transfer characteristics in each reactor were affected by agitation speed, and gas and liquid flow rates. Furthermore, issues regarding the comparison of mass transfer coefficients are discussed.

• 出版日期2013-4