Exercises on Mass Transfer

Example 9.1 Cell concentration in

aerobic culture
A strain of Azotobacter vinelandii is cultured in a 15
m3 stirred fermenter for alginate production. Under
current operating conditions kLa is 0.17 s^-1. Oxygen
solubility in the broth is approximately 8 x 10^-3
kg /m^3.
(a) The specific rate of oxygen uptake is 12.5 mmol/ g
h. What is the maximum possible cell concentration?
(b) The bacteria suffer growth inhibition after copper
sulphate is accidently added to the fermentation
broth. This causes a reduction in oxygen uptake rate
to 3 mmol/ g*h. What maximum cell concentration
can now be supported by the fermenter?

Example 9.2 Estimating kLa using the

dynamic method
A 20 l stirred fermenter containing a Bacillus thuringiensis culture at
30C is used for production of microbial insecticide, kLa is determined
using the dynamic method. Air flow is shut off for a few minutes and
the dissolved-oxygen level drops; the air supply is then re-connected.
When steady state is established, the dissolved-oxygen tension is
78% air saturation. The following results are obtained:
Time(s):
Oxygen tension (% air saturation):

5,
50,

15
66

(a) Estimate kLa.

(b) An error is made determining the steady-state oxygen level
which, instead of 78%, is taken as 70%. What is the percentage error
in kLa resulting from this 10% error in AL?

9.3 Single-point kLa determination

using the
oxygen-balance method
A 200-litre stirred fermenter contains a batch culture of Bacillus subtilis
bacteria at 28C. Air at 20C is pumped into the vessel at a rate of 1
vvm; (vvm stands for volume of gas per volume of liquid per minute).
The average pressure in the fermenter is 1 atm. The volumetric flow
rate of off-gas from the fermenter is measured as 189 l/ min.
The exit gas stream is analyzed for oxygen and is found to contain
20.1% 02. The dissolved-oxygen concentration in the broth is
measured using an oxygen electrode as 52% air saturation. The
solubility of oxygen in the fermentation broth at 28C and 1 atm air
pressure is 7.8 x 10^-3 kg /m^3.
(a) Calculate the oxygen transfer rate.
(b) Determine the value of kLa for the system.
(c) The oxygen analyzer used to measure the exit gas composition has
been incorrectly calibrated. If the oxygen content has been
overestimated by 10%, what error is associated with the result for kLa?

9.5 Dynamic kLa measurement

The dynamic method is used to measure kLa in a fermenter
operated at 30C. Data for dissolved-oxygen concentration as
function of time during the re- oxygenation step is as follows:
Time(s)
10
15
20
30
40
50
70
100
130

AL (% air saturation)
43.5
53.5
60.0
67.5
70.5
72.0
73.0
73.5
73.5

The equilibrium concentration of oxygen in the broth is 7.9 * 10^-3

kg/m^3. Determine kLa.