Dynamic Modeling Using Artificial Neural Network of Bacillus Velezensis Broth Cross-Flow Microfiltration Enhanced by Air-Sparging and Turbulence Promoter

Abstract

Cross-flow microfiltration is a broadly accepted technique for separation of microbial biomass after the cultivation process. However, membrane fouling emerges as the main problem affecting permeate flux decline and separation process efficiency. Hydrodynamic methods, such as turbulence promoters and air sparging, were tested to improve permeate flux during microfiltration. In this study, a non-recurrent feed-forward artificial neural network (ANN) with one hidden layer was examined as a tool for microfiltration modeling using Bacillus velezensis cultivation broth as the feed mixture, while the Kenics static mixer and two-phase flow, as well as their combination, were used to improve permeate flux in microfiltration experiments. The results of this study have confirmed successful application of the ANN model for prediction of permeate flux during microfiltration of Bacillus velezensis cultivation broth with a coefficient of determination of 99.23% and absolute relative error less than 20% for over 95% of the predicted data. The optimal ANN topology was 5-13-1, trained by the Levenberg–Marquardt training algorithm and with hyperbolic sigmoid transfer function between the input and the hidden layer.

Modeling and Optimization of Gas Sparging-Assisted Bacterial Cultivation Broth Microfiltration by Response Surface Methodology and Genetic Algorithm

“…Physical or chemical feed-mixture pretreatment together with appropriate choice of membrane material could prevent membrane fouling and contribute to increased permeate flux values, as showed in case of microfiltration of Bacillus thuringiensis cultivation broth [ 22 , 23 ]. Different flow manipulations could be applied in order to enhance mass transfer near membrane surface, including application of static turbulence promoters [ 18 , 24 , 25 , 26 ] and feed flow alterations, such as pulsing, back-flushing, vibration, etc. [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ].…”

Biotechnological production of plant inoculants based on nitrogen-fixing bacteria

“…Classical techniques applied in biotechnological processes for bacterial biomass separation include centrifugation and microfiltration (Jokić et al, 2019;Jokić et al, 2020). Furthermore, flocculation as a biomass separation technique could be employed, considering that some of the nitrogen-fixing bacteria show the tendency to flocculate or aggregate.…”