Fluidized‐Bed Bioreactors

Abstract

Abstract Fluidized‐bed reactors present a number of advantages that make them an attractive alternative in processes involving biocatalysts. However, fluidized‐bed bioreactors are also realtively complex, basically for two reasons. First, their use requires the biocatalyst, commonly cells or enzymes, to be immobilized into or onto a solid support. Second, the hydrodynamic characterization is difficult, especially in those systems where three phases (gas—liquid—solid) are involved. The mathematical model of a fluidized‐bed bioreactor needs to take into account those hydrodynamic aspects that will determine the flux model in the reactor. Moreover, the description of other aspects is also required: the mechanisms of transport between the different phases, the kinetic equations for the phenomena taking place in the biocatalytic particles, such as cell growth, product formation, substrate consumption, enzyme deactivation, and the mass balance equations in the reactor. In addition to these aspects, the application of fluidized‐bed bioreactors to different kind of processes is also discussed. The potential of this type of bioreactor is also emphasized from the point of view of the different number of possible modifications in the design both of the bioreactor and the biocatalyst particles, in order to enhance its operation.