Airlift Taylor Flow bioreactors as a novel platform to enhance H<sub>2</sub>-assisted CO<sub>2</sub> bioconversion processes
| dc.coverage | DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2025.167871 | |
| dc.creator | Cruz, Pedro | |
| dc.creator | Lebrero, Raquel | |
| dc.creator | Vergara-Fernández, Alberto | |
| dc.creator | Muñoz, Raúl | |
| dc.date | 2025 | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-11-18T19:52:05Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-11-18T19:52:05Z | |
| dc.description | <p>The microbial valorization of CO<sub>2</sub> requires the development of novel bioreactor configurations capable of ensuring a cost-effective gas-liquid mass transfer. This study presents the design, characterization and performance evaluation of a novel Airlift Taylor Flow Reactor (ATFR), which integrates the gas-induced liquid recirculation of airlift systems, with the high gas-liquid mass transfer potential of Taylor flow in multicapillary systems. The liquid recirculation flow in the downcomer was quantified using a colour tracer method, and the volumetric oxygen mass transfer coefficient (k<sub>L</sub>a) was determined via the sulphite oxidation method, both with and without forced recirculation. The results showed that the implementation of forced mechanical recirculation via a centrifugal pump negatively impacted the total liquid recirculation and k<sub>L</sub>a. A maximum k<sub>L</sub>a of 891 ± 23 h<sup>−1</sup> was achieved at a gas flow rate of 60 L min<sup>−1</sup>, representing a 75 % increase compared to the same condition with external forced liquid recirculation. The autotrophic growth of Cupriavidus necator showed a direct correlation with k<sub>L</sub>a, with a 171 % increase in maximum cell concentration and a 67 % increase in the specific growth rate when k<sub>L</sub>a increased from 183 to 364 h<sup>−1</sup>. These findings highlight the potential of the ATFR as a promising platform for gas-liquid mass transfer-limited processes, particularly in systems bioconverting poorly soluble gases such as H<sub>2</sub>, CH<sub>4</sub>, CO and O<sub>2</sub>.</p> | eng |
| dc.identifier | https://investigadores.uandes.cl/en/publications/836deccb-96c4-4966-bbbc-a84615f8d949 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://repositorio.uandes.cl/handle/uandes/57528 | |
| dc.language | eng | |
| dc.rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess | |
| dc.source | vol.522 (2025) date: 2025-10-15 | |
| dc.title | Airlift Taylor Flow bioreactors as a novel platform to enhance H<sub>2</sub>-assisted CO<sub>2</sub> bioconversion processes | eng |
| dc.type | Article | eng |
| dc.type | Artículo | spa |