Research Initiation: Transport Phenomena in Viscous Microbial Broths

粘性微生物发酵液的动态流动行为将与机械搅拌、充气发酵罐中的传输现象相关联。将特别注意含有在菌丝形态下生长的生物体的肉汤中的氧气运输。假设当牛顿行为变为非牛顿行为时，基于牛顿行为假设的传质关联式不足以关联传质。为新兴生物技术工业发展工程基础的一个关键方面是开发从实验室或试点规模的设备到生产规模的设备的规模扩大的试探法。工程师进行精确放大的能力取决于对设备行为的准确预测的使用。该项目将确定当流动行为变得更加复杂时是否需要替代相关性。

The dynamic flow behavior of viscous microbial broths will be correlated with transport phenomena in mechanically agitated, air-sparged fermenters. Special attention will be given to oxygen transport in broth containing organisms that grow in a mycelial morphology. It is hypothesized that mass transfer correlations based on assumptions of Newtonian behavior are inadequate for correlating mass transfer when the behavior becomes non-newtonian. A critical aspect of developing the engineering base for the emerging biotechnology industry is developing heuristics for scale-up from laboratory or pilot-scale equipment to production-scale equipment. The engineer's ability to make the scale-up accurately depends upon the use of accurate predictions of the behavior of the equipment. This project will determine if alternate correlations are needed as the flow behavior becomes more complex.