Experimental Insights into the Fermentation of Pyro-Syngas to Ethanol in a Semi-Batch and Continuous Stirred Bioreactor with Mathematical Modelling and Optimization

Abstract

Syngas fermentation can play an important role in implementing the concept of biorefinery as it can serve as a platform to convert high-lignin biomass to biofuels. For the utilization of this process in commercial scale, the generation of an experimental database supported by a deterministic mathematical model and optimization is necessary. In this study, a locally isolated clostridial consortium, UACJUChE1, was used to convert pyro-syngas to ethanol and acetic acid. Mathematical models were developed and validated for a 3 L stirred and gas-sparged bioreactor operated in both semi-batch and continuous modes. The volumetric productivity of ethanol was correlated with the dilution rate and the gas residence time. The performance of the bioreactor, run in both semi-batch and continuous modes, was optimized using response surface methodology. For the semi-batch operation, a maximum ethanol concentration of 13.122 g/L after 30 h operation was achieved at optimum values of pyrolysis temperature, ratio of gas to liquid volume (VG/VL), and volumetric gas flow rate of 648 °C, 0.46, and 6.7 L/h respectively. For continuous operation, a maximum ethanol concentration of 29.450 g/L after 300 h is obtained at optimum values of VG/VL and ratio of gas to liquid volumetric flow rate of 0.28 and 335.148, respectively.