Three ‐dimensional‐printed millireactor with yeast immobilized in calcium‐alginate film for application in fermentation processes

AbstractAn innovative method of alcoholic fermentation was proposed by developing a microfluidic device with millichannels filled with yeast immobilized in alginate hydrogel, manufactured by a new robotic system. We propose and build an automatic equipment consisting of a modified three-dimensional (3D) printer with two independent systems, a module with a syringe for the injection of solutions/hydrogels and a conventional head with a fused filament fabrication mechanism. The methodology consisted of hydrogel 3D printing tests, the manufacture of millireactors with immobilized yeast and the application of the millireactors in alcoholic fermentation. The 22G needle provided the best printing accuracy in tests with hydrogel. The cells were homogeneously distributed by alginate and their concentration did not influence ethanol production. The optimal millireactor configuration was 2% alginate solution containing 25  g L−1 cells, achieved average ethanol production of 11.24  ± 0.015 g L−1, with productivity of 22.49  g L−1 h−1 and efficiency of 44%.

Source: AIChE Journal - October 5, 2021 Category: Science Authors: Mariana G. M. Lopes, Harrson S. Santana, Adriano G. P. Silva, Osvaldir P. Taranto Tags: BIOMOLECULAR ENGINEERING, BIOENGINEERING, BIOCHEMICALS, BIOFUELS, AND FOOD Source Type: research