Multimembrane bioreactor for extractive fermentation: ethanol from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Thesis/Dissertation · Wed Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:7120350

Cho, T

Low product concentration, low volumetric productivity and feedback inhibition have been problems in traditional biological production of fuels and chemicals. Solvent extraction and immobilized cells have been suggested as techniques to solve these problems. However, with solvent extraction, the best solvents are often toxic to cells. The slow diffusion of product and nutrient and disruption of immobilization matrix due to cell growth and/or gas production have been problems with traditional cell immobilization. A multimembrane bioreactor is proposed to circumvent the aforementioned problems. Four layers of its basic unit are separated by membranes. This structure prevents solvent emulsification in the fermentation broth. The system was tested for ethanol production from glucose using yeast. Tributyl phosphate (TBP) was chosen as the extractant. Experiments demonstrate for the first time a successful extractive fermentation with a practical solvent. Prevention of emulsification by immobilizing the solvent inside the pores of a hydrophobic membrane removes the toxic effect of TBP. These experiments also demonstrated that TBP exhibits phase toxicity but not chemical toxicity.

• Research Organization: Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7120350
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
090222* -- Alcohol Fuels-- Preparation from Wastes or Biomass-- (1976-1989)
ALCOHOLS
ALDEHYDES
BIOCONVERSION
BIOREACTORS
BIOSYNTHESIS
CARBOHYDRATES
DESIGN
ETHANOL
EXTRACTION
FERMENTATION
FUNGI
GLUCOSE
HEXOSES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
IMMOBILIZED CELLS
MICROORGANISMS
MONOSACCHARIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
SACCHARIDES
SACCHAROMYCES
SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLVENT EXTRACTION
SYNTHESIS
YEASTS