Bioreactor
It is a device in which a substrate of low value is utilized by living cells or enzymes to
produce a product of higher value. They are extensively used for the culturing of both
eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. Fermenter is slightly different from a bioreactor. It is
mainly used for the culturing of prokaryotic cells. Bioreactors are extensively used for
food processing, fermentation, waste treatment etc. the main function of a bioreactor
is to provide a controlled environment for growth of microbial cells, plant cell, animal
cell etc. to obtain a desired product. Designing and constructing a bioreactor requires
a number of points to be considered they are:
The vessel should be capable of being operated aseptically for a number of
days and should be reliable for long time operation.
Adequate agitation and aeration should be provided to meet the metabolic
requirements of the organisms. The agitation and aeration should not cause
any damage to cell.
Power consumption should be low as possible
A system of pressure temperature control should be provided
PH control should be regulated
Stamping facilities should be there
Evaporation loss from the fermenter should not be excessive
Vessel designing should be such that minimal use of labour in operations
such as harvesting, cleaning and maintaining
The vessel should be suitable to a range of process
The reactor should be made of cheapest material which enables satisfactory
result.
Adequate service provision should be there
Body parts of a Bioreactor
In a conventional bioreactor there will be usually a cylindrical vessel with domed top
and bottom of the vessel is surrounded by a jacket for regulating the temperature.
Sparger at the bottom through which air (O 2 or any other gases like carbon dioxide
Ammonia for pH) is introduced. Agitator shaft which is connected to a motor at the
bottom of the reaction vessel has side port for sampling and for addition of nutrients
, inoculum etc. they are also provided with probes for detecting the pH, temperature
and dissolved oxygen. Above the liquid level of the vessel, connection will be
provided for acid alkali antifoam etc.
The reactor vessels are designed to work at high temperature and high
pressure.
The materials used for body parts should be Nontoxic, should be used and
repeated sterilization with high pressure steam.
The bioreactor should be free from presence of stagnant area so that the
chance of contamination must be low, cleaning should be easier.
1. Vessel body - In fermentation with strict aseptic requirements materials which
can withstand repeated sterilization cycles are used. The fermenters are
usually made of glass or stainless steel.
i. Glass: It is useful because it gives smooth surfaces, is non-corrosive resistant
and easy to examine the interior of the vessel. The glass is usually made up
of Borosilicate
E.g.: in pilot plant fermenters, glass is used for vessel.
ii. Stainless steel: It consists of 4% of chromium. The corrosion resistance of
stainless steel is due to the chromium coating on the surface. Amount of
chromium need to resist corrosion depends on corresponding agent present
in particular environment such as acid alkali etc.
2. Temperature regulator - In the design and construction of fermenter there
must be adequate profession for temperature control which will affect the
design of the vessel body. Heat will be produced by microbial activity and
mechanical agitation. If the heat generated by these two processes is not
ideal for manufacturing processes, then the heat has to be removed from the
heating system. Internal heating coil or heating jackets through which water is
circulated is used to control temperature.
3. Aerator and agitator – Aeration and Agitation are important processes
required in a fermenter. Primary purpose of aeration is to provide
microorganism in submerged culture with sufficient oxygen for metabolic
It is a device in which a substrate of low value is utilized by living cells or enzymes to
produce a product of higher value. They are extensively used for the culturing of both
eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. Fermenter is slightly different from a bioreactor. It is
mainly used for the culturing of prokaryotic cells. Bioreactors are extensively used for
food processing, fermentation, waste treatment etc. the main function of a bioreactor
is to provide a controlled environment for growth of microbial cells, plant cell, animal
cell etc. to obtain a desired product. Designing and constructing a bioreactor requires
a number of points to be considered they are:
The vessel should be capable of being operated aseptically for a number of
days and should be reliable for long time operation.
Adequate agitation and aeration should be provided to meet the metabolic
requirements of the organisms. The agitation and aeration should not cause
any damage to cell.
Power consumption should be low as possible
A system of pressure temperature control should be provided
PH control should be regulated
Stamping facilities should be there
Evaporation loss from the fermenter should not be excessive
Vessel designing should be such that minimal use of labour in operations
such as harvesting, cleaning and maintaining
The vessel should be suitable to a range of process
The reactor should be made of cheapest material which enables satisfactory
result.
Adequate service provision should be there
Body parts of a Bioreactor
In a conventional bioreactor there will be usually a cylindrical vessel with domed top
and bottom of the vessel is surrounded by a jacket for regulating the temperature.
Sparger at the bottom through which air (O 2 or any other gases like carbon dioxide
Ammonia for pH) is introduced. Agitator shaft which is connected to a motor at the
bottom of the reaction vessel has side port for sampling and for addition of nutrients
, inoculum etc. they are also provided with probes for detecting the pH, temperature
and dissolved oxygen. Above the liquid level of the vessel, connection will be
provided for acid alkali antifoam etc.
The reactor vessels are designed to work at high temperature and high
pressure.
The materials used for body parts should be Nontoxic, should be used and
repeated sterilization with high pressure steam.
The bioreactor should be free from presence of stagnant area so that the
chance of contamination must be low, cleaning should be easier.
1. Vessel body - In fermentation with strict aseptic requirements materials which
can withstand repeated sterilization cycles are used. The fermenters are
usually made of glass or stainless steel.
i. Glass: It is useful because it gives smooth surfaces, is non-corrosive resistant
and easy to examine the interior of the vessel. The glass is usually made up
of Borosilicate
E.g.: in pilot plant fermenters, glass is used for vessel.
ii. Stainless steel: It consists of 4% of chromium. The corrosion resistance of
stainless steel is due to the chromium coating on the surface. Amount of
chromium need to resist corrosion depends on corresponding agent present
in particular environment such as acid alkali etc.
2. Temperature regulator - In the design and construction of fermenter there
must be adequate profession for temperature control which will affect the
design of the vessel body. Heat will be produced by microbial activity and
mechanical agitation. If the heat generated by these two processes is not
ideal for manufacturing processes, then the heat has to be removed from the
heating system. Internal heating coil or heating jackets through which water is
circulated is used to control temperature.
3. Aerator and agitator – Aeration and Agitation are important processes
required in a fermenter. Primary purpose of aeration is to provide
microorganism in submerged culture with sufficient oxygen for metabolic
