Fermentor

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• Article Title: Fermentor

Main > Food and Agriculture > Controlled-environment growing

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A fermentor or fermentation chamber is a type of bioreactor for containing and controlling fermenter microorganisms. Fermentation is an important economical route to important raw materials (ethanol, lactic acid) and fermented foods. A fermenter must control temperature and keep the chamber anaerobic and free of oxygen to optimize conditions for desired microbial fermentation. Fermentation is a basic and highly developed art and also pursued by hobbyists. Necessary public information is available to create an economical and high performance OSE version to complete certain product ecologies.

Fermentation

Fermentation is a way for microorganisms to continue metabolism when there is no exogenous electron acceptor. Microorganisms are forced to use an electron acceptor that is available endogenously, usually an organic compound. The organism gains high energy electrons by converting the molecule to lower energy forms by catalyzing the breakdown of oxygen functional groups to a lower redox state. The breakup of sugars into a large amount of modified small organic molecules such as ethanol, lactic acid, or acetic acid is useful to an OSE context for its ability to process agricultural feedstocks into desirable materials and foods. Fermentation is carried out by yeast and bacteria, in liquid and anaerobic solids. Silage is an example of solid state fermentation and fermentors are used for solution state fermentation.

OSE fermentor

Prototype 1

The fermentor should be designed to control the conditions necessary to raise any nonphototrophic microorgansism (see Photobioreactor). An initial prototype should be built to control the conditions for lactic acid and ethanol fermenters. Anaerobic and aseptic conditions must be maintained by being sealed to the outside. Initial designs will be for batch production but allow for configuration for continuous runs with proper attachments. Gas hookups will allow gas exchange with the atmosphere or injection of gas hookups. Top or side ports would allow the removal of broth and addition of substrates. The fermentor should be built in a conical shape to allow easy draining and the settling of particulate matter, an agitator should be located above the bottom port.

Advanced features

1. Configurable to allow different component hookup such as aeration, dialysis and inputs allowing continuous run 2. pH measurement with automatic base addition 3. Sensors for temperature, dissolved oxygen, nutrient density and cell density. 4. Growth programs

OSE fermentor specifications

• Ability to maintain anaerobic conditions, while removing product and adding substrate
• Internal dimensions
  • Internal volume
• Conical shape with outlet port at lowest point
• Material - Nonreactive stainless steel