Industrial Biotechnology

TYPES OF FERMENTORS

1. AIR LIFT FERMENTOR

It is a bioreactor in which the reaction medium is kept mixed and gassed by the introduction
of air or another gas at the base of a column-like reactor. It uses a draft tube which may be an
inner tube (this kind of air-lift bioreactor is called "air-lift bioreactor with an internal loop) or
an external tube (this kind of air-lift bioreactor is called "air-lift bioreactor with an external
loop) which improves circulation and oxygen transfer and equalizes shear forces in the
reactor. But the problem with these bioreactors is that the draft tube decreases the capacity.
It should be noted that the largest type of bioreactors are airlift bioreactors.

2. FLUIDIZED BED FERMENTOR

It was designed by Von Winkler for the first time in 1922. A fluidized bed is formed when a
quantity of a solid particulate substance is placed under appropriate conditions to cause the
solid/fluid mixture to behave as a fluid. It is the best choice for immobilizing cells or enzymes.
No baffles or impellers are used in these bioreactors. Its advantages are that the product is
free from cells and enzymes resulting in less cost price of downstream processing. But the
repacking of the enzyme is very difficult as toxic substances may stick to it.

3. MEMBRANE BIOREACTOR

Membrane bioreactor (MBR) is the combination of a membrane

process like microfiltration or ultrafiltration with a suspended growth bioreactor, and is now
widely used for municipal and industrial wastewater treatment. The filtration element is
installed in the main bioreactor vessel. The product passes from the membrane but the media
remains in the vessel. But its disadvantage is that the membrane gets block after sometime.

4. PHOTOBIOREACTOR

A photobioreactor is a bioreactor that incorporates some type of light source to

provide photonic energy input into the reactor. A closed photobioreactor can be described as
an enclosed, illuminated culture vessel designed for controlled biomass production
of phototrophic liquid cell suspension cultures. Despite its cost, it has several major
advantages over open systems. They can prevent or minimize contamination, permitting
cultivating of algal monocultures. It also offers better control over bio-cultural conditions
(pH, light intensity, carbon dioxide, and temperature). Open Photobioreactor, on the other
hand increases chances of contamination and evaporation.

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