Anaerobic Cellulose Digestion and Characterization of the Cultivaton Process in Tower-Type Fermentor

概要

論文の詳細を見る
In the anaerobic decomposition of cellulose by Ruminococcus albus, a tower-type fermentor (TTF) is expected to be a bioreactor with a lower specific power input. The fermentor is a three phase system; gas (CO_2 and H_2 which are produced by the microorganism)-liquid (medium)-solid (cellulose and cells) phases. Therefore, this system could be considered a three-phase fluidized bed or a solid-suspended bubble column without bulk liquid flow. Heights and diameters of the TTFs affected the longitudinal cellulose distribution in the fermentors. Among the TTFs tested (columns of 1 and 3 m in height by 0.03,0.06 and 0.15 m in diameter), the best homogeneity of cellulose concentration was observed in the 0.15 m × 3 m one throughout the fermentation. The profile of the cellulose distribution in the fermentor could be simulated at an arbitrary fermentation time based upon a one-dimensional dispersion model using superficial gas velocity as a parameter. Moreover, the courses of production of cell mass and product (ethanol and acetic acid) concentrations were well evaluated by applying an unstructured model and by considering adsorption between cells and cellulose, where some critical parameters for the model were found from the pattern of gas evolution.
社団法人日本生物工学会の論文
1985-08-25