(98i) Process Analysis ofAerobic Batch Fermentation of α-D-Glucose

Aerobic Glucose fermentation is the conversion of glucose into products, like acetic acid, carbon dioxide, and biomass. During the fermentation process, yeast converts sugar into an acid , biomass, and carbon dioxide by feeding on a series of increasingly complex sugars, breaking the sugar down into other compounds. With the use of a Chemap fermentor and a source of sugar (Dextrose) for a reaction, acid aldehyde, acetic acid and biomass were the major products formed under aerobic conditions. In order to start the research, known experiments had to be replicated in order to determine what the procedure must be. Using the research gathered from scientific databases and journals, some calculations were made in determining what current production practices could be applied for the given closed system used in the laboratory: proper order of addition, temperature controls, methods of analysis, etc. The theory was then applied to ChemCAD 5.4.x to achieve theoretical yields. The actual products were analyzed using a gas chromatograph, a centrifuge, and a spectrophotometer, and the remaining biomass was determined using cell volume analysis. The goal was to evaluate the aerobic process and determine effectiveness of the Chemap AG Fermenter.