What is industrial scale fermentation?

Industrial fermentation is a chemical engineering term used to describe the processes that utilize a chemical change induced by a living organism or enzyme, in particular bacteria, yeasts, molds, or fungi, that produces a specific product [1]. … A picture of industrial scale bioreactor fermenters.

What is industrial fermentation used for?

Industrial Application of Fermentation

Fermentation is used in industry to generate ethanol for the production of biofuel. It is an attractive renewable resource because it originates from feedstocks including grains and crops such as corn, sugar cane, sugar beets and cassava.

What is large scale fermenter?

Large-scale fermentations are utilized to create massive quantities of ethanol which are used for food production, alcohol production, and even gasoline production. … Fermentation utilizes numerous organic compounds, such as sugars, as endogenous electron acceptors to promote the electron transfer that occurs.

How do industrial fermenters work?

Fermenters are containers used to grow bacteria and fungi in large amounts, eg Penicillium mould for producing penicillin (an antibiotic). This removes fungal cells, leaving the product penicillin which will need to be treated chemically before use. …

What is an example of industrial fermentation?

A common example is ethanol or lactic acid, produced during glycolysis. Citric acid is produced by some strains of Aspergillus niger as part of the citric acid cycle to acidify their environment and prevent competitors from taking over.

Is industrial fermentation a metabolic process?

Fermentation is a metabolic process that produces chemical changes in organic substrates through the action of enzymes. In biochemistry, it is narrowly defined as the extraction of energy from carbohydrates in the absence of oxygen.

How are industrial fermenters cleaned?

The use of hot and pressurized steam to clean and sterilize fermentors is one of the most crucial steps in the fermentation process. … Steam is the gas phase of water. Steam is produced when water passes its boiling point. Thus the temperature of steam is always very hot.

What are the 3 types of fermentation?

These are three distinct types of fermentation that people use.
  • Lactic acid fermentation. Yeast strains and bacteria convert starches or sugars into lactic acid, requiring no heat in preparation. …
  • Ethanol fermentation/alcohol fermentation. …
  • Acetic acid fermentation.

What are the parts of fermenter?

The components of a fermenter include the growth chamber, impellers, spargers, baffles, sensors, fluid pumps and computer system.

Why are there air bubbles in a fermenter?

Microbes and nutrients are put into the fermenter and air is bubbled through so that the microbes can respire aerobically. … Paddle stirrers ensure that the microbes, nutrients and oxygen are well mixed and distributes the heat evenly.

Why must a fermenter be Sterilised?

After sterilisation, all nutrient medium and air entering the fermenter must be sterile. … Filters preventing the passage of microorganisms are fitted to exhaust gas lines; this serves to contain the culture inside the fermenter and insures against contamination should there be a drop in operating pressure.

How fermenter is sterilized?

Sterilization of the fermenter

The fermenter should be so designed that it may be steam sterilized under pressure. The medium may be sterilized in the vessel or separately, and subsequently added aseptically. … This may be achieved by steam being introduced into the fermenter coils or jacket.

Why is ammonia needed in a fermenter?

The nitrogen supply for growth (which is ammonia) is fed into the fermenter with the sterile compressed air, at the base of the riser. The rate of supply of ammonia to the culture is regulated by a pH monitor set to give a culture pH of 6.0.

What products come from fermentation?

The main fermentation products include organic acids, ethyl alcohol and carbon dioxide. Commercially the mostly important are lactic acid and ethanolic fermentations.

What is the function of motor in fermenter?

They are mounted on the shaft and introduced in the fermentor through its lid. They are made up of impeller blades and the position may vary according to its need. These impellers or blades are attach to a motor on lid. The important function of an impeller is to mix micro-organisms, media and oxygen uniformly.

Why does pH need to be controlled in a fermenter?

It is important to monitor the pH of the fermenter to ensure this acidity can be detected and acid or alkali can be added accordingly to make sure the fermenter is at the optimum pH for the microorganisms.

What are probes in fermenter?

• Probes are used to monitor conditions within fermenters. • Conditions are maintained at optimal levels for the growth of the microorganism being cultured. Probes and sensors are used to monitor condtions within the fermenter in order to maintain optimal levels of microbial growth.

Why does a fermenter heat up?

Fermentation is exothermic, which means it will create its own heat. … However, since yeast growth and fermentations are exothermic and therefore generate heat, figure that the temperature within the fermenter can be as much as 8 °F (4 ºC) higher than outside of the fermenter during the early days of fermentation.