Ethanol production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae immobilized in hollow-fiber membrane bioreactors

Journal Article · Fri Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1983 · Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5424937

Inloes, D S; Taylor, D P; Cohen, S N; Michaels, A S; Robertson, C S

Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATCC 4126 was grown within the macroporous matrix of asymmetric-walled polysulfone hollow-fiber membranes and on the exterior surfaces of isotropic-walled polypropylene hollow-fiber membranes. Nutrients were supplied and products were removed by single-pass perfusion of the fiber lumens. Growth of yeast cells within the macrovoids of the asymmetric-walled membranes attained densities of greater than 10 to the power of 10 cells per ml and in some regions accounted for nearly 100% of the available macrovoid volume, forming a tissue-like mass. A radial distribution of cell packing existed across the fiber wall, indicating an inadequate glucose supply to cells located beyond 100 mum from the lumen surface. By comparison, yeast cell growth on the exterior surfaces of the isotropic-walled membranes resulted in an average density of 3.5 x 10 to the power of 9 viable cells per ml. Ethanol production by reactors containing isotropic polypropylene fibers reached a maximum value of 26 g/liter-h based on the total reactor volume. Reactor performance depended on the fiber packing density and on the glucose medium flow rate and was limited by low nutrient and product transport rates. The inhibition of ethanol production and the reduction in fermentation efficiency arose primarily from the accumulation of CO/sub 2/ gas within the sealed reactor shell space. (Refs. 37).

• Research Organization: Dept. of Chemical Engineering and Genetics, Stanford Univ., Stanford, CA 94305
• OSTI ID: 5424937
• Journal Information: Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States), Journal Name: Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States) Vol. 46:1; ISSN AEMID
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
090222* -- Alcohol Fuels-- Preparation from Wastes or Biomass-- (1976-1989)
140504 -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Biomass Production & Conversion-- (-1989)
ALCOHOLS
BIOCONVERSION
BIOREACTORS
BIOSYNTHESIS
EFFICIENCY
ETHANOL
FERMENTATION
FUNGI
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
IMMOBILIZED CELLS
INHIBITION
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PLANTS
POLYMERS
POLYOLEFINS
POLYPROPYLENE
SACCHAROMYCES
SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE
SYNTHESIS
YEASTS