Evaluation of scale-up parameters of bioethanol production from Escherichia coli KO11

Abstract

© 2015, Turkish Biochemistry Society. All rights reserved. into fuel ethanol, as one of the cleanest liquid fuel alternatives to fossil fuels. However, industrial production of bioethanol is related with successful scaling-up studies. Methods: In this study, the experimental designs of scale-up procedures based on constant mixing time, impeller tip speed and oxygen mass transfer coefficient were performed in 8 L stirred tank reactor and were compared in terms of product yield and productivity with those obtained from 2 L stirred tank reactor using quince pomace as a substrate for bioethanol production by Escherichia coli KO11. Results: Scale-up based on constant mixing time yielded a maximum ethanol concentration of 23.42 g/L which corresponded to 0.4 g ethanol/ g reduced sugar in 8 L stirred tank reactor. Moreover, shear stress increased only 1.1 fold which resulted in low cell damage and high cell viability. Conclusion: Constant mixing time was identified as the most important key parameter especially for scaling-up of viscous fermentation broths of bioethanol production due to the significance of the homogeneity.