SIMULATION STUDY ON BLEED EFFECT IN CELL-RECYCLE CULTURE OF ACETOBACTER ACETI

Abstract

The effect of the bleed ratio on acetic acid production in the cell-recycle culture of Acetobacter aceti was simulated, particularly with regard to the acetic acid production rate and the concentrations of viable cells, total cells, ethanol and acetic acid. The result of simulation agrees well with the experimental data obtained at the dilution rate of 0.73h^-1. The theoretical maximum acetic acid production rate (123.1g/l/h) was obtained when the cell-recycle culture was carried out without bleeding at the dilution rate of 3.52h^-1. A chart is presented to predict the dilution rate and bleed ratio for obtaining cultures of relatively high concentrations of viable cells and acetic acid (>40g/l). It is claimed that the bleed from such a culture can be used to supply active cells at high concentration to the second-stage bioreactor in a two-stage culture.