A comparison of mass transfer coefficients between trickle-bed, hollow fiber membrane and stirred tank reactors

Trickle-bed reactor (TBR), hollow fiber membrane reactor (HFR) and stirred tank reactor (STR) can be used in fermentation of sparingly soluble gasses such as CO and H-2 to produce biofuels and bio-based chemicals. Gas fermenting reactors must provide high mass transfer capabilities that match the kinetic requirements of the microorganisms used. The present study compared the volumetric mass transfer coefficient (K(tot)A/V-L) of three reactor types; the TBR with 3 mm and 6 mm beads, five different modules of HFRs, and the STR. The analysis was performed using O-2 as the gaseous mass transfer agent. The nonporous polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) HER provided the highest K(tot)A/V-L (1062 h(-1)), followed by the TBR with 6 mm beads (421 h(-1)), and then the STR (114 h(-1)). The mass transfer characteristics in each reactor were affected by agitation speed, and gas and liquid flow rates. Furthermore, issues regarding the comparison of mass transfer coefficients are discussed. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.