Syngas fermentation to biofuel: evaluation of carbon monoxide mass transfer and analytical modeling using a composite hollow fiber (CHF) membrane bioreactor

Pradeep Chaminda Munasinghe; Samir Kumar Khanal

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2012.03.053

Syngas fermentation to biofuel: evaluation of carbon monoxide mass transfer and analytical modeling using a composite hollow fiber (CHF) membrane bioreactor

Bioresour Technol. 2012 Oct:122:130-6. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2012.03.053. Epub 2012 Mar 24.

Authors

Pradeep Chaminda Munasinghe¹, Samir Kumar Khanal

Affiliation

¹ Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering (MBBE), University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Agricultural Science Building 218, 1955 East-West Road, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA.

PMID: 22494572
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2012.03.053

Abstract

In this study, the volumetric mass transfer coefficients (Ka) for CO were examined in a composite hollow fiber (CHF) membrane bioreactor. The mass transfer experiments were conducted at various inlet gas pressures (from 5 to 30 psig (34.5-206.8 kPa(g))) and recirculation flow rates (300, 600, 900, 1200 and 1500 mL/min) through CHF module. The highest Ka value of 946.6 1/h was observed at a recirculation rate of 1500 mL/min and at an inlet gas pressure of 30 psig(206.8 kPa(g)). The findings of this study confirm that the use of CHF membranes is effective and improves the efficiency CO mass transfer into the aqueous phase.

Publication types

Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Biofuels / analysis*
Bioreactors*
Carbon Monoxide / chemistry*
Fermentation*
Hydrodynamics
Membranes, Artificial*
Models, Chemical*
Pressure
Reproducibility of Results
Rheology
Waste Products / analysis*

Substances

Biofuels
Membranes, Artificial
Waste Products
Carbon Monoxide