Dept. of Chem. Engg. N.I.T.

Srinagar
Home Assignment No.2
May-2017
Subject: Biochemical Engineering
1. Air supply to penicillin fermentation was turned off for a short period of time and then restarted. Use the
following tabulated measurements of dissolved oxygen (DO) values to estimate saturation constant (C*),
oxygen uptake rate (rX) and volumetric mass transfer co-efficient of oxygen ( kl a ) in this system.
Air Off Air On
t (min) 0 1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
DO PPM) 3.3 2.4 1.3 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.3 1.0 1.6 2.0 2.4 2.7 2.9 2.9 3.1 3.2 3.3
2. The following data were obtained from yeast fermentation:
Air Off Air On
t (s) 0 18 33 48 63 78 93 108 123 138 153 168 183 198 213
DO PPM) 6.28 5.36 4.92 3.84 3.28 2.72 2.5 3.36 4.64 5.52 6.08 6.48 6.64 6.8 6.96
Compute kl a , rX and C*.
3. In a bioreactor containing sterilized fermentation medium (not containing any cell), nitrogen was sparged in
order to bring down the level of dissolved oxygen (DO). Then oxygen was passed through the medium and
its concentration with respect to time was recorded resulting the data given in the following Table:
t (min) 0 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
DO PPM) 4.68 4.86 5.05 5.28 5.54 5.69 5.92 6.15 6.34 6.52 6.67 6.83 6.94 7/07 7.17
Equilibrium concentration of dissolved oxygen in the medium was 8 PPM at 100% partial pressure.
Estimate the value of volumetric mass transfer co-efficient ( kl a ) of oxygen.
4. After passing nitrogen in a fermentation medium, oxygen is sparged and the rise in DO is recorded as per
the following Table:
t (min) 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
DO PPM) 4.66 4.82 5.16 5.58 5.94 6.31 6.62 6.92 7.13 7.30 7.47
Determine the value of kl a .
5. Dimensions of fermentor equipped with one set of flat-blade turbines and two baffle plates are:
Fermentor diameter, Dt = 3 m
Impeller diameter, Di = 1 m
Baffle plate width, Wb = 0.3 m
Liquid depth, HL =3m
The fermenter is used for specific fermentation. The viscosity, , and the density, , of the broth are:
= 1,195 kg/m3, = 0.019 kg/m.s
Rotation speed of impellers and aeration speed are N = 70 rpm and 0.5 vvm, respectively.
Calculate
(i) Power requirements, P, for ungassed system.
(ii) Power requirements, Pg, for gassed system.
(iii) Volumetric mass-transfer co-efficient ( kl a ) of oxygen.
(iv) Hold-up, H0 of bubbles.
6. Dimensions of fermentor equipped with one set of flat-blade turbines and two baffle plates are:
Fermentor diameter, Dt = 4 m
Impeller diameter, Di = 2 m
Baffle plate width, Wb = 0.3 m
Liquid depth, HL =5m
The fermenter is used for specific fermentation. The viscosity, , and the density, , of the broth are:
= 2, 000 kg/m3, = 0.02 kg/m.s
Rotation speed of impellers and aeration speed are N = 80 rpm and 0.45 vvm, respectively.

B.Tech. 8th Semester 1 2013- Batch

Dept. of Chem. Engg. N.I.T. Srinagar

Calculate
(i) Power requirements, P, for ungassed system.
(ii) Power requirements, Pg, for gassed system.
(iii) Volumetric mass-transfer co-efficient ( kl a ) of oxygen.
(iv) Hold-up, H0 of bubbles.
7. (i) During the course of batch sterilization of the fermentation medium, the heating and cooling rates for a
given fermentor are: heating up from 100 0C to 121 0C in 17 min; cooling down from 121 0C to 100 0C
in 8 min. value for heating from 100 0C to 121 0C at 1 0C/min is 11. Where as this for value cooling
down from 121 0C to 100 0C at the same rate is also 11. If the total is 40 and the value of death rate
constant is 2.5 min-1, how long the holding period be at 121 0C ?
(ii) It is desired to carry out the above sterilization in a fermentor of different size. If the new fermentor
contains one tenth of the volume of the original and the times for heating up and cooling down between
100 0C and 121 0C are 15 min and 10 min, respectively. What should be the holding period?
(iii)In the problem above, a fault develops in the temperature controller and the temperature rises from
100 0C to 116 0C and remains constant for 15 min. After correction of the fault the temperature then
rises the remaining 5 0C at the normal rate, so that the total heating period excluding this is un-usual.
Now how long the holding period be 121 0C?
8. For pasteurization milk is heated to 65 0C for 25 min. But when it is heated to 75 0C, it takes only 10
seconds for the same result. Find the activation energy of this sterilization process. (R = 8.314 JK-1mol-1)
9. The activation energy of a pasteurization process of milk is 422 000 J/mol. If 30 min are required during
pasteurization for heating up to 63 0C, how much time would be needed if the same result is to be achieved
at 74 0C? (R = 8.314 JK-1mol-1)

B.Tech. 8th Semester 2 2013- Batch