Production analysis of biofilm fermentation under homogeneous shear conditions

Abstract

This thesis explores the behaviour of biofilm fermenters through the analysis of two individual biofilm fermentation case studies. The studies were performed in a novel tubular bioreactor with homogeneously controlled shear. The case studies included a two-phase (gas–liquid) study performed on the anaerobic, lactic acid-producing Lactobacillus rhamnosus, and a three-phase (gas–liquid–solid) study on the CO2-fixating, succinic acid-producing Actinobacil-lus succinogenes. The studies focused specifically on four parameters, namely volumetric pro-duction rates, specific production rates, the metabolic product distributions with correspond-ing redox analysis, and the biofilm compositions as a function of shear conditions.