Tutorial 4 CLL271

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Review: Bioreactor Scale-up, Concentration Polarization and Centrifugation.

1. For removal of bacterial cells from a fermentation broth, a tubular centrifuge is to be used.
The cells are spherical with radius of 0.4 μm and a density of 1.10 g/cm3. The speed of
centrifuge is 4500 rpm, the bowl diameter is 10 cm, the bowl length is 80 cm, and the diameter
of the outlet opening of the bowl is 4 cm. Find the maximum flow rate of the fermentation broth.

2. Concentration polarization (or polarization modulus) is an important parameter for a

membrane. It is defined as the ratio of the concentration of solute on the surface to
concentration in the bulk. We will consider film theory for simplicity.
a. State all the assumptions.
b. Find an expression for concentration polarization according to the film
theory.
c. What are the limitations of film theory?
d. How is this number useful?

3. All particles of density 2800 kg/m3 and of size 5 μm were separated from suspension in water
fed at a volumetric throughput rate of 0.25 m3/sec. Calculate the capacity factor ∑ of the
centrifuge. Find the corresponding size cut for a suspension of particles in oil fed at the rate of
0.04 m3/sec? The density of coal is 1300 kg/m3 and the density of the oil is 850 kg/m3 and its
viscosity is 0.01 Pas. Assume Stoke’s law.

4. After a batch fermentation, the system is disassembled and seventy-five percent of the cell
mass is suspended in the liquid phase (2 liters), while the rest is attached to various surfaces
inside the reactor (reactor walls and internals) in a thick film (ca. 0.3 cm). The analysis
demonstrates that fifty-five percent of the target product (intracellular) is associated with each
cell fraction. The productivity of this reactor is 2 gm product/lit at the 2 lit scale. What would be
the productivity at a 20,000-litre scale if both reactors are geometrically similar with a
height-to-diameter ratio of 2 to 1?