1

Fluidized Bed Reactor

In fluidized bed reactors, cells are "immobilized" in small

particles which move with the fluid. The small particles create a
large surface area for cells to stick to and enable a high rate of
transfer of oxygen and nutrients to the cells.
The fluidized bed reactor is most suitable when a high viscosity
substrate solution and a gaseous substrate or product are used in
a continuous reaction system. The figure below illustrates a
continuous fluidized bed reactor:

fluidized bed bioreactor

 
 2

In this system, care must be taken to avoid the destruction and

decomposition of immobilized enzymes. The particle size of
immobilized enzymes is an important factor for the formation of
a smooth fluidized bed.
Innovative BioSystems, Inc. invented a bioreactor. The reactors
will be marketed as fluidized bed, fixed film bioreactors for
aerobic and anaerobic degradation of organic compounds in soil
and in water.
Sarra et. al. studied the continuous production of a hybrid
antibiotic by a transformed strain of Streptomyces lividans
TK21 in a three-phase fluidized bed. Cell aggregates, known as
pellets, are used as immobilized cell particles in the bioreactor.
Continuous production of the antibiotic can be maintained at
satisfactory levels for periods of 60 days, and stable operation of
the bioreactor is achieved during 85 days.
An anaerobic, granular-activated fluidized bed reactor is
designed for treatment of propellant wastewater by The U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers.
Other source about fluidized bed bioreactor