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Enhancing mass transfer and ethanol production in syngas fermentation of Clostridium carboxidivorans P7 through a monolithic biofilm reactor

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  • Shen, Yanwen
  • Brown, Robert
  • Wen, Zhiyou

Abstract

Syngas fermentation is a promising process for producing fuels and chemicals from lignocellulosic biomass. Currently syngas fermentation faces several engineering challenges, with gas-to-liquid mass transfer limitation representing the major bottleneck. The aim of this work is to evaluate the performance of a monolithic biofilm reactor (MBR) as a novel reactor configuration for syngas fermentation. The volumetric mass transfer coefficient (kLa) of the MBR was evaluated in abiotic conditions within a wide range of gas flow rates (i.e., gas velocity in monolithic channels) and liquid flow rates (i.e., liquid velocity in the channels). The kLa values of the MBR were higher than those of a controlled bubble column reactor (BCR) in certain conditions, due to the slug flow pattern in the monolithic channels. A continuous syngas fermentation using Clostridium carboxidivorans P7 was conducted in the MBR system under varying operational conditions, with the variables including syngas flow rate, liquid recirculation between the monolithic column and reservoir, and dilution rate. It was found that the syngas fermentation performance – measured by such parameters as syngas utilization efficiency, ethanol concentration and productivity, and ratio of ethanol to acetic acid – depended not only on the mass transfer efficiency but also on the biofouling or abrading of the biofilm attached on the monolithic channel wall. At a condition of 300mL/min of syngas flow rate, 500mL/min of liquid flow rate, and 0.48day−1 of dilution rate, the MBR produced much higher syngas (CO/H2) utilization efficiency and much greater metabolite (ethanol/acetic acid) productivity than what was obtained using a traditional bubble column reactor. The study demonstrates the great potential of MBR as a promising reactor configuration for syngas fermentation with high mass transfer efficiency, low energy consumption, and high metabolite productivity.

Suggested Citation

  • Shen, Yanwen & Brown, Robert & Wen, Zhiyou, 2014. "Enhancing mass transfer and ethanol production in syngas fermentation of Clostridium carboxidivorans P7 through a monolithic biofilm reactor," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 68-76.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:136:y:2014:i:c:p:68-76
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.08.117
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hanno Richter & Michael E. Martin & Largus T. Angenent, 2013. "A Two-Stage Continuous Fermentation System for Conversion of Syngas into Ethanol," Energies, MDPI, vol. 6(8), pages 1-14, August.
    2. James Daniell & Michael Köpke & Séan Dennis Simpson, 2012. "Commercial Biomass Syngas Fermentation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 5(12), pages 1-46, December.
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    Cited by:

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    3. Yang, Chunlei & Dong, Lifeng & Gao, Yanhua & Jia, Peng & Diao, Qiyu, 2021. "Engineering acetogens for biofuel production: From cellular biology to process improvement," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    4. Abubackar, Haris Nalakath & Bengelsdorf, Frank R. & Dürre, Peter & Veiga, María C. & Kennes, Christian, 2016. "Improved operating strategy for continuous fermentation of carbon monoxide to fuel-ethanol by clostridia," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 210-217.
    5. Shen, Yanwen & Brown, Robert C. & Wen, Zhiyou, 2017. "Syngas fermentation by Clostridium carboxidivorans P7 in a horizontal rotating packed bed biofilm reactor with enhanced ethanol production," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 585-594.
    6. Khanongnuch, Ramita & Abubackar, Haris Nalakath & Keskin, Tugba & Gungormusler, Mine & Duman, Gozde & Aggarwal, Ayushi & Behera, Shishir Kumar & Li, Lu & Bayar, Büşra & Rene, Eldon R., 2022. "Bioprocesses for resource recovery from waste gases: Current trends and industrial applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
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    8. Azize Ayol & Luciana Peixoto & Tugba Keskin & Haris Nalakath Abubackar, 2021. "Reactor Designs and Configurations for Biological and Bioelectrochemical C1 Gas Conversion: A Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-36, November.

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