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The rotorfermentor. I. Description of the apparatus, power requirements, and mass transfer characteristics
Author(s) -
Margaritis Argyrios,
Wilke Charles R.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
biotechnology and bioengineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.136
H-Index - 189
eISSN - 1097-0290
pISSN - 0006-3592
DOI - 10.1002/bit.260200507
Subject(s) - microporous material , fermentation , filtration (mathematics) , mass transfer , chemistry , membrane , chromatography , bioreactor , aeration , chemical engineering , biochemistry , organic chemistry , mathematics , statistics , engineering
A novel fermentation device, the rotorfermentor, is described and some experimental results are presented on power requirements and oxygen mass transfer characteristics of the rotorfermentor. This fermentation device is designed to achieve high cell concentrations in batch and continuous cultures. Basically, the rotorfermentor consists of a rotating microporous membrane which is enclosed within a stationary fermentor vessel. The metabolic products in the broth are continuously removed by filtration through the rotating microporous membrane while the growing cells can be retained inside the fermentor. This dual function of cell growth and concentration with the simultaneous removal of metabolic products is the essential characteristic of the rotorfermentor.