CORK INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY INSTITIID TEICNEOLAOCHTA CHORCA Semester 2 Examinations 2009/10

Module Title:
Module Code: School: Programme Title: CHEP 7001

Bioreactor Design

Mechanical & Process Engineering Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Chemical & Biopharmaceutical Engineering Stage 2 ECPEN_8_Y2

Programme Code:

External Examiner(s): Internal Examiner(s):

Prof. Peter Heggs and Mr. Michael Law Mr. Ian O Sullivan

Instructions:

Answer Only TWO questions. Students are allowed to use their course notes booklets and steam tables. 2 Hours Summer 2010

Duration: Sitting:

Requirements for this examination:

Course Notes / Steam Tables

Note to Candidates: Please check the Programme Title and the Module Title to ensure that you have received the correct examination paper. If in doubt please contact an Invigilator.

Q1 (a) The dynamic method is used to measure kLa in a bioreactor operated at 30C. Data for the dissolved oxygen concentration as a function of time during the reoxygenation step are as follows:
Time (s) 10 15 20 30 40 50 70 100 130 % Air Saturation 43.5 53.5 60 67.5 70.5 72 73 73.5 73.5

Determine kLa and OUR assuming that the solubility of oxygen in the broth is equal to the solubility of oxygen in water at the reaction temperature. (18 marks) (b) Assuming that the bioprocess broth contains glucose at a concentration of 25 kg/m3 what steps would you take to make your calculations more accurate? Note: you are not expected to re-do the calculation in part (a). (7 marks)

Q2

The formation of penicillin from glucose is realized in a continuous culture by Penicillum chrysogenum. The following information was obtained from experimental studies: So = 5 g/L, m = 0.2 h-1, KS = 200 mg/L, kd = 0.002 h-1, YP/S = 0.2 gP/gS, qp = 0.1 gP/gX.h (a) Plot the variations of S, X and DX with varying dilution rate (recommend 0-0.25 in 0.05 intervals). (20 marks) (b) Determine graphically the optimum dilution rate which will maximize the productivity of biomass. (5 marks) Note: The absence of a YX/S value in the question is not an error!

Q3 (a)

The fungus Aureobasidium pullularis is used to produce an extracellular polysaccharide by fermentation of sucrose. After 120 h of fermentation, the following measurements of shear stress and shear rate were made with a rotating cylinder viscometer

Shear Stress (dynes/cm2) 44.1 235.3 357.1 457.1 636.8

Shear Rate (s-1) 10.2 170 340 510 1020

Convert the shear stress values to the appropriate SI unit and plot a Rheogram for this fluid. Determine the rheology type that the fluid exhibits. Determine the appropriate non-Newtonian parameters. What is the apparent viscosity at shear rates of 15 s-1 and 200 s-1? (20 marks) (b) What are the units of the non-Newtonian parameters? (5 marks)