Article

Evaluation of the energy efficiency of enzyme fermentation by mechanistic modeling

  1. Mads O. Albaek1,2,
  2. Krist V. Gernaey1,
  3. Morten S. Hansen2,
  4. Stuart M. Stocks2,*

Article first published online: 21 DEC 2011

DOI: 10.1002/bit.24364

Issue

Biotechnology and Bioengineering

Biotechnology and Bioengineering

Volume 109, Issue 4, pages 950–961, April 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

Albaek, M. O., Gernaey, K. V., Hansen, M. S. and Stocks, S. M. (2012), Evaluation of the energy efficiency of enzyme fermentation by mechanistic modeling. Biotechnol. Bioeng., 109: 950–961. doi: 10.1002/bit.24364

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Building 229, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark

  2. 2

    Novozymes A/S, Fermentation Pilot Plant, Krogshoejvej 36, DK-2880 Bagsvaerd; telephone: +45-44464824; fax: 45-44467090, Denmark

*Novozymes A/S, Fermentation Pilot Plant, Krogshoejvej 36, DK-2880 Bagsvaerd; telephone: +45-44464824; fax: 45-44467090, Denmark.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 21 FEB 2012
  2. Article first published online: 21 DEC 2011
  3. Accepted manuscript online: 8 NOV 2011 09:13AM EST
  4. Manuscript Accepted: 25 OCT 2011
  5. Manuscript Revised: 12 SEP 2011
  6. Manuscript Received: 7 JUL 2011

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Keywords:

  • Trichoderma;
  • cellulases;
  • energy efficiency;
  • mass transfer correlation;
  • process modeling

Abstract

Modeling biotechnological processes is key to obtaining increased productivity and efficiency. Particularly crucial to successful modeling of such systems is the coupling of the physical transport phenomena and the biological activity in one model. We have applied a model for the expression of cellulosic enzymes by the filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei and found excellent agreement with experimental data. The most influential factor was demonstrated to be viscosity and its influence on mass transfer. Not surprisingly, the biological model is also shown to have high influence on the model prediction. At different rates of agitation and aeration as well as headspace pressure, we can predict the energy efficiency of oxygen transfer, a key process parameter for economical production of industrial enzymes. An inverse relationship between the productivity and energy efficiency of the process was found. This modeling approach can be used by manufacturers to evaluate the enzyme fermentation process for a range of different process conditions with regard to energy efficiency. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2012; 109:950–961. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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