Modeling of heat and mass transfer for solid state fermentation process in tray bioreactor

Rajagopalan, SR and Modak, JM (1995) Modeling of heat and mass transfer for solid state fermentation process in tray bioreactor. In: Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering, 13 (3). pp. 161-169.

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Abstract

A mathematical model is developed to simulate oxygen consumption, heat generation and cell growth in solid state fermentation (SSF). The fungal growth on the solid substrate particles results in the increase of the cell film thickness around the particles. The model incorporates this increase in the biofilm size which leads to decrease in the porosity of the substrate bed and diffusivity of oxygen in the bed. The model also takes into account the effect of steric hindrance limitations in SSF. The growth of cells around single particle and resulting expansion of biofilm around the particle is analyzed for simplified zero and first order oxygen consumption kinetics. Under conditions of zero order kinetics, the model predicts upper limit on cell density. The model simulations for packed bed of solid particles in tray bioreactor show distinct limitations on growth due to simultaneous heat and mass transport phenomena accompanying solid state fermentation process. The extent of limitation due to heat and/or mass transport phenomena is analyzed during different stages of fermentation. It is expected that the model will lead to better understanding of the transport processes in SSF, and therefore, will assist in optimal design of bioreactors for SSF.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering
Publisher:	Springer
Additional Information:	Copyright of this article belongs to Springer.
Department/Centre:	Division of Mechanical Sciences > Chemical Engineering
Date Deposited:	12 Jan 2010 05:12
Last Modified:	19 Sep 2010 05:53
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/25225

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