(297d) Kinetic Study and CFD Modeling of Anaerobic Bioethanol Fermentation

Nowadays, computational modeling of biochemical and biological systems plays an important role in biotechnology-related disciplines. In this context, mathematical models and process modeling techniques are frequently employed to predict and describe the behavior of bioprocesses such as fermentation. One of the challenges in bioreactor modeling is interaction of mass transfer and biochemical reaction in bio processes. A MATLAB-based graphical user interface (GUI) was developed to study the kinetics of bioethanol production and yeast growth on glucose fermentation using seven different Monod type models. This model-based application can be of assistance in estimating and developing the procedures involved in upscaling and optimizing the bioprocesses of interest. In this study, an anaerobic batch ethanol fermentation carried out in a 3-L bioflo115 with two Rushton turbines was considered. The developed kinetic application has produced acceptable results compared to experimental data obtained in laboratory scale ethanol fermentation. The estimated parameters were applied in CFD study of the process using the k-ε turbulent model to consider the effect of mixing on fermentation productivity. Fermentation productivity and concentration of substrate, biomass and product predicted in both perfectly-stirred condition and CFD model were compared to each other and to experimental data obtained for ethanol produced, dry yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae growth and glucose degradation in laboratory scale fermentation.