Continuous membrane fermentor separator for ethanol fermentation

Thesis/Dissertation · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6914669

Cho, C

The inhibiting effect of ethanol on yeast growth and ethanol production has been studied using the strain Saccharomyces cerevisiae NRRL-Y-2034 under anaerobic conditions. Batch and continuous fermentation data were fitted to a kinetic model. The integration of continuous fermentation and separation of ethanol in the same unit has been proposed. Pervaporation with ethanol selective silicone rubber hollow fiber membranes was considered for separation. A laboratory scale Continuous Membrane Fermentor Separator (CMFS) unit utilizing a shell and tube configuration was designed and fabricated. Two types of continuous fermentation experiments were carried out: fermentation with dead membranes as the reference and fermentation with live membranes through which ethanol was continuously removed by pervaporation from the fermentor. Performance of the CMFS results in higher yeast cell densities, reduction of ethanol inhibition, longer residence time of substrate, more glucose consumption, and recovery of clean and concentrated ethanol. A mathematical model was developed and used to determine the effects of design and operation parameters of the CMFS, including dilution rate, dimensionless membrane volume, substrate concentration, membrane properties, etc. Computer simulation results indicated that the CMFS could provide significant improvements not only in ethanol productivity but also in glucose consumption for highly concentrated substrate when the dimensionless membrane volume and/or permeability of ethanol was increased.

• Research Organization: Cincinnati Univ., OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6914669
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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ALCOHOLS
ALDEHYDES
BATCH CULTURE
BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
BIOCONVERSION
BIOREACTORS
CARBOHYDRATES
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
CONTINUOUS CULTURE
DESIGN
ETHANOL
FERMENTATION
FUNGI
GLUCOSE
GROWTH
HEXOSES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INHIBITION
KINETICS
LOADING RATE
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MEMBRANES
MICROORGANISMS
MONOSACCHARIDES
OPERATION
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PERFORMANCE
PLANTS
REACTION KINETICS
SACCHARIDES
SACCHAROMYCES
SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SIMULATION
SYNTHESIS
YEASTS