RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article
T1 Airlift Taylor Flow bioreactors as a novel platform to enhance H2-assisted CO2 bioconversion processes
A1 Cruz, Pedro
A1 Lebrero Fernández, Raquel
A1 Vergara Fernández, Alberto
A1 Muñoz Torre, Raúl
K1 Bioreactors
K1 Reactor (ATFR)
K1 23 Química
AB The microbial valorization of CO2 requires the development of novel bioreactor configurations capable of ensuring a cost-effective gas-liquid mass transfer. This studypresents the design, characterization and performance evaluation of a novel Airlift Taylor Flow Reactor (ATFR), which integrates the gas-induced liquid recirculationof airlift systems, with the high gas-liquid mass transfer potential of Taylor flow in multicapillary systems. The liquid recirculation flow in the downcomer wasquantified using a colour tracer method, and the volumetric oxygen mass transfer coefficient (kLa) was determined via the sulphite oxidation method, both with andwithout forced recirculation. The results showed that the implementation of forced mechanical recirculation via a centrifugal pump negatively impacted the totalliquid recirculation and kLa. A maximum kLa of 891 ± 23 h 1 was achieved at a gas flow rate of 60 L min 1, representing a 75 % increase compared to the samecondition with external forced liquid recirculation. The autotrophic growth of Cupriavidus necator showed a direct correlation with kLa, with a 171 % increase inmaximum cell concentration and a 67 % increase in the specific growth rate when kLa increased from 183 to 364 h 1. These findings highlight the potential of theATFR as a promising platform for gas-liquid mass transfer-limited processes, particularly in systems bioconverting poorly soluble gases such as H2, CH4, CO and O2.
PB Elsevier
SN 1385-8947
YR 2025
FD 2025
LK https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/78906
UL https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/78906
LA eng
NO Chemical Engineering Journal, 2025, vol. 522, p. 167871
NO Producción Científica
DS UVaDOC
RD 13-nov-2025