Oxygen Transfer Rate in Continuous Multi Phase Fluidized Bed Reactor with Immobilized Cells of Streptomyces varsoviensis for Production of Oxytetracycline

Ravichandra P., Annapurna Jetty*, Johny Joseph and A. Gangagni Rao

Biochemical and Environmental Engineering Centre, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Tarnaka, Hyderabad - 500 007 India

ABSTRACT: Continuous production of Oxytetracycline was carried out in a multiphase fluidized bed bioreactor with 30% (w/v) calcium alginate cross linked with glutaraldehyde immobilized cells of Streptomyces varsoviensis. At 1 vvm (unit volume of air per unit volume of the reactor per minute) of air flow rate maximum amount of antibiotic was produced in the reactor. In order to verify the oxygen transfer efficiency in STR and FBR, oxygen mass transfer coefficient was determined by using dynamic method at the end of steady state operation of the reactor after achieving highest antibiotic concentration. The oxygen mass transfer coefficient (k_La) obtained in fluidized bed bioreactor (FBR) was 35.7 1/hr whereas in Stirred tank reactor (STR) it was 27.9 1/hr under similar conditions. The results revealed that FBR could be operated more economically than STR because of 28% of higher oxygen mass transfer than STR for the production of antibiotics due to the higher oxygen transfer efficiency.

KEYWORDS: Dynamic Gassing out Method; FBR; Immobilization; Oxytetracycline; STR; Volumetric Oxygen Mass Transfer Coefficient (k_La)

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