Multicapillary membrane bioreactor design

Thesis (MTech (Chemical Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2005The white rot fungus, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, produces enzymes, which are capable of degrading chemical pollutants. It was detennined that this fungus has multiple growth phases. The study provided infonnation that can be used to classify growth kinetic parameters, substrate mass transfer and liquid medium momentum transfer effects in continuous secondary metabolite production studies. P. chrysosporium strain BKMF 1767 (ATCC 24725) was grown at 37 QC in single fibre capillary membrane bioreactors (SFCMBR) made of glass. The SFCMBR systems with working volumes of 20.4 ml and active membrane length of 160 mm were positioned vertically. Dry biofilm density was determined by using a helium pycnometer. Biofilm differentiation was detennined by taking samples for image analysis, using a Scanning Electron Microscope at various phases of the biofilm growth. Substrate consumption was detennined by using relevant test kits to quantify the amount, which was consumed at different times, using a varying amount of spore concentrations. Growth kinetic constants were detennined by using the substrate consumption and the dry biofilm density model. Oxygen mass transfer parameters were determined by using the Clark type oxygen microsensors. Pressure transducers were used to measure the pressure, which was needed to model the liquid medium momentum transfer in the lumen of the polysulphone membranes. An attempt was made to measure the glucose mass transfer across the biofilm, which was made by using a hydrogen peroxide microsensor, but without success