The effect of Alcanivorax borkumensis SK2, a hydrocarbon-metabolising organism, on gas holdup in a 4-phase bubble column bioprocess.

To design bioprocesses utilising hydrocarbon-metabolising organisms (HMO) as biocatalysts, the effect of the organism on the hydrodynamics of bubble column reactor (BCR), such as gas holdup, needs to be investigated. Therefore, this study investigates the first use of an HMO, Alcanivorax borkumensis SK2, as a solid phase in the operation and hydrodynamics of a BCR. The study investigated the gas holdup in 3-phase and 4-phase systems in a BCR under ranges of superficial gas velocities (U) from 1 to 3 cm/s, hydrocarbon (chain length C-) concentrations (H) of 0, 5, and 10% v/v and microbial concentrations (M) of 0, 0.

Quantification of oxygen transfer coefficients in simulated hydrocarbon-based bioprocesses in a bubble column bioreactor.

This study investigates the overall volumetric oxygen transfer coefficient (Ka) in multiphase hydrocarbon-based bioprocess under a range of hydrocarbon concentrations (H), solid loadings (deactivated yeast) (S) and superficial gas velocities (U) in a bubble column reactor (BCR). Ka increased with increasing U in the air-water system; due to an increase in the number of small bubbles which enhanced gas holdup. In air-water-yeast systems, the initial addition of yeast increased Ka significantly.