Performances of a trickle-bed reactor (TBR) for exoenzymes production by Phanerochaete chrysosporium: influence of superfacial liquid velocity

In the present work, the influence of the superficial liquid velocity on lignin peroxidases (LiPs) production by Phanerochaete chrysosporium was evaluated in a tricle-bed reactor (TBR) with biomass entrapped in a Ca-alginate matrix coating a ceramic supports (Berl saddles). Different tests were carried out varying only the superficial liquid velocity. Several parameters have been considered to evaluate the performance of the reactor at different operating conditions. The LiPs activity begins to occur at the same time independently on the liquid flow rate, but a superficial liquid velocity around 0.02-0.04 cm s(-1) resulted in a remarkably higher LiPs activity. The different parameters used to evaluate the reactor performances show the same dependency on the superficial liquid velocity. Mass transfer of oxygen and glucose as well as shear stress seem to be the phenomena controlling both LiPs activity and LiPs productivity. Liquid flow rate during trophic phase affect LiPs activity during idiophase. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.