Fumaric acid production in airlift loop reactor with porous sparger.

Airlift loop reactors with porous spargers were investigated and used in the process of fumaric acid production by Rhizopus oryzae ATCC 20344. In order to enhance oxygen mass transfer, which is very important for organic acid production, two kinds of porous spargers (stainless steel membrane tube and porcelain tube) were examined. Gas holdup, liquid circulation velocity, mixing time, bubble size, and bubble rise velocities were measured in a 50 L rectangular airlift loop reactor with different ratios of the cross-sectional area of the riser and downcomer. The local volumetric mass transfer coefficient (K(L)a) was also measured in the gas sparger zone. The results indicated that high K(L)a and excellent hydrodynamics can be obtained in the airlift loop reactor with a porous sparger. A 10 L laboratory airlift loop reactor was employed for the fumaric acid fermentation. Results showed that the turbulence of two-phase flow in the airlift loop reactor not only produced favorable conditions for mass transfer, but was also useful for forming and suspending small, well-distributed mycelial pellets (1-2 mm). A production rate of up to 0.814 g/L/h and efficiency yield of 50.1% (w/w) was obtained in the airlift loop reactor. The performance was compared with the typical stirred tank fermentor fermentation results.