Gas hold-up and oxygen transfer in three-phase external-loop airlift bioreactors: Non-Newtonian fermentation broths

The effects of solids loading on gas hold-up and oxygen transfer in external-loop airlift bioreactors with non-Newtonian fermentation media are discussed. Experiments were performed in two model external-loop airlift bioreactors with aqueous solutions of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and xanthan gum representing non-Newtonian flows. Low-density plastic particles of 1030 and 1300 kg m(-3) were used and the solids loading was varied in the range 0-20% (v/v). For the inelastic non-Newtonian CMC aqueous solutions, the presence of low-density solid particles slightly increased the riser gas hold-up, phi(gr), but decreased the volumetric mass transfer coefficient, k(L)a. On the other hand, phi(gr) decreased but k(L)a increased with solids loading in the viscoelastic non-Newtonian xanthan gum aqueous solution. The extent of these effects depended on non-Newtonian flow behavior. Theoretical models of riser gas hold-up and volumetric mass transfer coefficient have been developed. The capability of the proposed models was examined using the present experimental data obtained in the model external-loop airlift bioreactors and the available data in the literature. The data were successfully correlated by the proposed correlations except the results for k(L)a coefficient in the xanthan gum solution.