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Title: BIOFILM REACTORS FOR INDUSTRIAL BIOCONVERSION PROCESSES: EMPLOYING POTENTIAL OF ENHANCED REACTIONS RATES

Author
item Qureshi, Nasib
item Annous, Bassam
item EZEJI, THADDEUS - UNIV IL
item KARCHER, PATRICK - UNIV IL
item MADDOX, IAN - NEW ZEALAND

Submitted to: Review Article
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/25/2005
Publication Date: 8/25/2005
Citation: Qureshi, N., Annous, B.A., Ezeji, T.C., Karcher, P., Maddox, I.S. 2005. Biofilm reactors for industrial bioconversion processes: employing potential of enhanced reactions rates. Microbial Cell Factories. 4:24. Available: http://www.microbialcellfactories.com/content/4/1/24.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: This article describes the use of biofilm reactors for the production of various chemicals by fermentation and wastewater treatment. Biofilm formation is a natural process where microbial cells attach to the support (adsorbent) without use of chemicals and form thick layers of cells known as “biofilms.” As a result of biofilm formation, cell densities in the reactor increase and cell concentrations as high as 74 gL**-1 can be achieved. The reactor configurations can be as simple as batch or continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR), packed bed reactor (PBR), fluidized bed reactor (FBR), airlift reactor (ALR), or any other suitable configuration. This article demonstrates that reactor productivities in these reactors have been superior to any other reactor types. This article describes production of ethanol, butanol, lactic acid, acetic acid/vinegar, succinic acid, and fumaric acid in addition to wastewater treatment in the biofilm reactors. As the title suggests, biofilm reactors have high potential to be employed in biotechnology/bioconversion industry for viable economic reasons. Various reactor types have been compared in this article for the above bioconversion processes.