3/6/2017 Bioreactors - Classification and Types

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Bioreactors - Classification and Types

BY: Sandhya Anand | Category: Applications | Submitted: 2011-04-06 17:33:19

Article Summary: "Bioreactors are designed

to provide a controlled environment for optimal
growth of microbes. The article describes the
classification and types of bioreactors along
with their advantages and disadvantages..."

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Bioreactors are used for carrying out biochemical processes which employ microbes, fungus,
plant cells or mammalian cell systems for production of biological products. The bioreactors
provide a controlled environment for the production of metabolites which can help to achieve
the optimal growth of microbes. The term fermentor is used as synonym to bioreactors.

Classification of bioreactors

There are numerous types of bioreactors - batch, sequence, continuously stirred tanks,
anaerobic contact processes, anaerobic filters, etc.

1. They can be conveniently classified into three major types based on the presence or
absence of oxygen and requirement of stirring.
Non stirred non aerated bioreactors are used for production of traditional products such as
wine, beer, cheese etc.
Non stirred aerated reactors are used much rarely.
Stirred and aerated reactors are most often used for production of metabolites which require
growth of microbes which require oxygen. Most of the newer methods are based on this type
of bioreactors.

2. Based on mode of operation, the bioreactors can be classified into three types.
Batch reactors
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Fed batch
Continuous e.g.: chemo stat

3. Based on the method of growing of microbes, bioreactors can be either

Suspended or
Immobilized
The Petri dish is the simplest immobilized bioreactor. The large scale immobilized bioreactors
are used for commercial manufacturing of metabolites. They include
- Moving bed
- Fibrous bed
- Packed bed
- Membrane

4. On the basis of the microbial agent used, the bioreactors can be classified into
Those based on living cells
Which employ enzymes

5. Based on the process requirements, bioreactors can be classified into

a. Aerobic
b. Anaerobic
c. Solid state
d. Immobilized

I. Aerobic fermentation

These reactors should have adequate provisions for supply of sterile air and also need a
mechanism of stirring up and mixing the medium and cells. These can be either

a. Stirred tank or
b. Air lift type
Generally, they are either closed type or batch reactors. Some special cases use continuous
flow reactors also.

1. Stirred tank bioreactor

This is the conventional mixing reactor which is made of either glass or stainless steel. The
stirrer can be either at the top or bottom of the reactor. The dimensions of the reactor
depend on the amount of heat to be removed from the vessel. Baffles in the centre of the
tank prevent formation of vortex and effective mixing of the ingredients.

Advantages
Low investment needs
Low operating costs

Disadvantages
Foaming is often a problem. But this can be overcome using proper antifoaming agents.
However, this has to be exercised with caution since some antifoaming agents inhibit the
growth of microbes.

2. Air lift bioreactors

The stirred tank bioreactors lack well defined flow of air. In these, air is pumped from below.
This creates the bubbles in the medium which rises up through the draught tube by buoyancy

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and drags the surrounding fluid up. The air that is used to lift up is sufficient to stir up the
contents.

Advantages
Low friction
Less energy requirements
The mechanical parts are easy to construct. There is no need of special aseptic seals.
Scaling up is easier
Metabolic performance does not drastically reduce on scale up.

Disadvantages
Capital needed is more
Difficulty of sterilization
Efficiency of mixing is low

II. Anaerobic fermentation

These reactors do not require aeration except in a few where initial preparation of inoculums
requires aeration. Once the fermentation starts off, the gas released from the media is
sufficient to provide mixing.
In case of enzyme production, the recovery has to be strictly under anaerobic conditions since
for most of the enzymatic activity is sensitive to the presence of oxygen.

III. Immobilized cell bioreactors

These are based on immobilized cells.

Advantages
Useful fro manufacture of intracellular enzymes.
When the extracted enzymes are unstable
For preparing low weight products which are released into the medium.
Reduction of pollution
Allow continuous operation of bioreactors
Suitable for production of amino acids, organic acids etc.

Commonly fluidized bed reactors and hollow fiber membrane bioreactors are used

1. Fluidized bed reactors

These reactors can utilize high density of particles and reduce bulk fluid density.

Advantages
Heat and mass transfer are efficient
The mixing of the media between the liquid, solid and gaseous phases are effective.
The reactor requires less energy.
Low shear rates and hence suitable for cells which are more sensitive to friction like the
plant cells and mammalian cells.

2. Hollow fiber membrane bioreactors

These reactors have hollow fibers are made from cellulose acetate, acrylic polymers,
polysulphone etc.

Advantages
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Advantages
Extracellular products can be separated from cells at the same time.
The productivity is high.
Scale up is easy since several parallel fiber units can be added.

Disadvantages
Sometimes, the pores get plugged.
Cell growth around the lumen can sometimes distort and rupture the fibers.
Nutrients and products can diffuse through the membrane and limit the growth of microbes.
If the toxic products happen to accumulate in the fiber it may inhibit the growth of microbes.

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Comments on this article: (8 comments so far)

C omment By C omment
Rachel The article has a very good beginning. Gathering a little more
2012-07-30 21:30:07 323 information will enhance the usefulness of this article
charu pandey the contents shold b more explanable n some types f
2012-11-08 18:12:09 352 bioreactors r missing
Thanks. I included only the basic types since this was
Sandhya Anand - Author
originally intended to be an introduction article. Will try to
2013-11-16 09:03:11 722
elaborate more in the coming articles.
Ghasan
thanks for information
2014-02-21 06:32:06 760
Sarita nayak
It is better for our understanding about bioreactors. thanks.
2014-05-11 18:35:03 783
Nikhil Patel.
I got all the information I need. Thank you.
2015-04-23 01:18:28 928
Bernice Glz I'd like to see some diagrams and the general structure of the
2015-09-26 22:11:27 982 bioreactors (it's parts). But the article has great information!
Soumyadeep Should have included other types such as packed bed
2015-11-07 20:38:28 1000 bioreactors along with a detailed working mechanism.

Leave a Comment | Article Views: 81484

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