Monitoring gradient formation in a jet aerated bioreactor.

Jet aerated loop reactors (JLRs) provide high mass transfer coefficients (ka) and can be used for the intensification of mass transfer limited reactions. The jet loop reactor achieves higher ka values than a stirred tank reactor (STR). The improvement relies on significantly higher local power inputs (∼10) than those obtainable with the STR.

Impact of nozzle operation on mass transfer in jet aerated loop reactors. Characterization and comparison to an aerated stirred tank reactor.

The impact of mass transfer on productivity can become a crucial aspect in the fermentative production of bulk chemicals. For highly aerobic bioprocesses the oxygen transfer rate (OTR) and productivity are coupled. The achievable space time yields can often be correlated to the mass transfer performance of the respective bioreactor.

Jet aeration as alternative to overcome mass transfer limitation of stirred bioreactors.

In industrial biotechnology increasing reactor volumes have the potential to reduce production costs. Whenever the achievable space time yield is determined by the mass transfer performance of the reactor, energy efficiency plays an important role to meet the requirements regarding low investment and operating costs. Based on theoretical calculations, compared to bubble column, airlift reactor, and aerated stirred tank, the jet loop reactor shows the potential for an enhanced energetic efficiency at high mass transfer rates.