Foam control in biotechnological processes—challenges and opportunities
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Published:2024-01-05
Issue:1
Volume:4
Page:
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ISSN:2730-7700
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Container-title:Discover Chemical Engineering
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language:en
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Short-container-title:Discov Chem Eng
Author:
Tiso Till,Demling Philipp,Karmainski Tobias,Oraby Amira,Eiken Jens,Liu Luo,Bongartz Patrick,Wessling Matthias,Desmond Peter,Schmitz Simone,Weiser Sophie,Emde Frank,Czech Hannah,Merz Juliane,Zibek Susanne,Blank Lars M.,Regestein Lars
Abstract
AbstractFoam formation is a massive challenge in submerged aerated bioprocesses, e.g., in beer fermentation. While the use of antifoam may easily overcome foaming at laboratory scale, it is often an unattractive solution since the challenge remains in future upscaling, as reduced mass transfer and extra steps in product purification and analytics result in increased costs. Interestingly, the number of studies tackling this challenge is relatively low, although literature suggests a range of alternatives, from avoiding foaming to means of controlling or even using foaming as an in situ product removal. Here we give an overview of the topic in five subsections. (1) We argue that a sound understanding of the molecular origin of foaming can facilitate solutions for overcoming the challenge while introducing some long-known challenges (i.e., in beer fermentation). We then review in (2) the apparent avoidance of foam formation before we in (3) summarize possibilities to reduce and control foam after its formation. Subsequently, in (4), we discuss possible solutions that take advantage of foam formation, for example, via foam fractionation for in situ product removal. Finally, in (5), we provide an overview of microbial strain engineering approaches to cope with some aspects of foaming in fermentations. With this review, we would like to sensitize and inform the interested reader while offering an overview of the current literature for the expert, particularly with regard to the foam special issue in Discover Chemical Engineering.
Funder
Horizon 2020 Framework Programme
Germany’s Excellence Strategy
Ministerium für Kultur und Wissenschaft des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen
Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, Germany
Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung
European Social Fund
RWTH Aachen University
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
General Computer Science