Development and validation of a model for a fermentation process carried out in a fluidized bed bio-reactor [Desarrollo Y Validacion De Un Modelo De Un Proceso Fermentativo Realizado En Un Bio-Reactor De Lecho Fluidizado]

Abstract

In this work, a mathematical model to describe the dynamics of a glucose fermentation process to produce ethanol is proposed. This process is carried out using immobilized yeast in a fluidized bed bioreactor. The model is a set of coupled nonlinear partial differential equations, derived from the unsteady state mass balances of the species involved in the fermentation: substrate, biomass and product. The orthogonal collocation method is used to solve the resulting model. A series of experimental runs for glucose fermentation is performed to validate the model. It is found that the model satisfactorily predicts the dynamic behavior of the fermentation species for various operating conditions.