Types of Bioreactors / Fermenters
Bioreactor / Fermenter A bioreactor is basically a device in which the organisms are cultivated to form the desired products. It is a containment system designed to give right environment for optimal growth and metabolic activity of the organism.
1.Stirred Tank Bioreactor 2.Airlift Bioreactor 3.Packed Bed Bioreactor 4.Fluidized Bed Bioreactor 5.Photo Bioreactor 6.Membrane Bioreactor 7.Rotary Drum Bioreactor 8.Mist Bioreactor
Stirred Tank Bioreactor
Advantages of Stirred Tank Bioreactor . Continuous operation. Good temperature control. Easily adapts to two phase runs. Good control. Simplicity of construction. Low operating cost. Easy to clean.
Disadvantages of Stirred Tank Bioreactor The need for shaft seals and bearings. Size limitation by motor size, shaft length & weight
Airlift Bioreactor
Advantages of Airlift Fermenter Simple design Easier sterilization (no agitator shaft parts). Low Energy requirement vs stirred tank. Greater heat-removal vs stirred tank. Very low cost.
Disadvantages of Airlift Fermenter Greater air throughput and higher pressures needed. Inefficient break the foam when foaming occurs. No bubbles breaker
Packed Bed Bioreactor
Advantages of Packed Bed Reactor Higher conversion per unit mass of catalyst than other catalytic reactors. Continuous operation No moving parts to wear out. Low operating cost Catalyst stays in the reactor Reaction mixture/catalyst separation is easy. Effective at high temperatures and pressures
Disadvantages of Packed Bed Reactor Undesired heat gradients. Poor temperature control. Difficult to clean. Difficult to replace catalyst. Undesirable side reactions.
Fluidized Bed Bioreactor
Advantages of Fluidized Bed Reactor Uniform Particle Mixing. Uniform Temperature Gradients. Ability to Operate Reactor in Continuous State.
Disadvantages of Fluidized Bed Reactor Increased Reactor Vessel Size Pumping Requirements and Pressure Drop Particle Entrainment Lack of Current Understanding Erosion of Internal Components Pressure Loss Scenarios
Photo Bioreactor
Advantages of Photobioreactor Higher productivity. Large surface-to-volume ratio. Better control of gas transfer. Reduction in evaporation of growth medium. More uniform temperature.
Disadvantages of Photobioreactor Capital cost is very high. The productivity and production cost in some enclosed photobioreactor systems are not much better than those achievable in open-pond cultures. The technical difficulty in sterilizing.
Membrane Bioreactor
Advantages of membrane bioreactor The loss of enzyme is reduced. Enzyme lost by denaturation can be made up by periodic addition of enzyme. Substrate and enzyme can be easily replaced.
Rotary Drum Bioreactor
Advantages of Rotary Drum Reactor High oxygen transfer. Good mixing facilitates better growth and impart less hydrodynamic stress.
Disadvantages of Rotary Drum Reactor Difficult to scale up
Mist Bioreactor
Advantages of Mist Bioreactor High oxygen transfer. . Hydrodynamic stress elimination. Low production cost.
Disadvantages of Mist Bioreactor Mesh trays and cylindrical stainless steel meshes are required
Tower Fermenter
Bubble-up Fermenter
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