Modeling and simulation of tanks-in-series airlift bioreactors for production of lactic acid by fermentation

Abstract

A tanks-in-series model was applied for mathematical modeling of the unsteady state performance of 70 and 100 liters airlift bioreactor for the production of lactic acid by fermentation. A set of first-order differential equations for the material balances of micro-organism, substrate, product, and dissolved oxygen around hypothetically well mixed stages was solved simultaneously utilizing computer program in MATLAB. The kinetic model utilized considered the effect of two substrates (glucose and dissolved oxygen) on the growth rate. The effect of air velocity on the lactic acid production was investigated. Results of this model have been validated with experimental data.

Anaerobic Processes

“…Several articles focused on development of mathematical models to describe processes involved in wastewater treatment. Vafajoo et al (2011) used a tanksin-series model to develop a mathematical model of airlift bioreactor for production of lactic acid by fermentation.…”