Kinetic Modeling of 1‐G Ethanol Fermentations

Abstract

The most recent rise in demand for bioethanol, due mainly to economic and environ-mental issues, has required highly productive and efficient processes. In this sense, mathematical models play an important role in the design, optimization, and control of bioreactors for ethanol production. Such bioreactors are generally modeled by a set of first-order ordinary differential equations, which are derived from mass and energy balances over bioreactors. Complementary equations have also been included to describe fermentation kinetics, based on Monod equation with additional terms accounting for inhibition effects linked to the substrate, products, and biomass. In this chapter, a reasonable number of unstructured kinetic models of 1-G ethanol fermenta-tions have been compiled and reviewed. Segregated models, as regards the physiologi-cal state of the biomass (cell viability), have also been reviewed, and it was found that some of the analyzed kinetic models are also applied to the modeling of second-gener-ation ethanol production processes.