Packed-bed Bioreactors
Packed-bed Bioreactors - Related Videos
10:39
Single and Two-phase Flow in a Packed Bed Reactor
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2023
Source: Kerry M. Dooley and Michael G. Benton, Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA The goal of this experiment is to determine the magnitude of maldistribution in typical packed bed reactors in both single phase and two-phase (gas-liquid) flow and evaluate the effects of this maldistribution on pressure drop. The concepts of residence time distribution and dispersion are introduced through the use of tracers, and these concepts are related to physical...
06:52
Lab-Scale Model to Evaluate Odor and Gas Concentrations Emitted by Deep Bedded Pack Manure
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Cited by 4 •
2018
A protocol has been developed to measure gases, odors, and nutrient composition in lab-scaled bedded manure packs, which can be used to study ways to improve air quality in commercial cattle facilities using deep-bedded manure packs.
12:54
Operation of a Benchtop Bioreactor
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Cited by 9 •
2013
Fermentors are used to increase culture yield and productivity of bioengineered cells. After screening multiple microbial or animal cell culture candidates in shake flasks, the next logical step is to increase the selected culture’s biomass with the fermentor. This video demonstrates the setup and operation of a typical benchtop bioreactor system.
09:40
Batch and Continuous Bioreactors
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2023
Bioreactors are used to grow organisms in large volumes, thereby enabling the production of mass quantities of the target product. These reactors can be batch reactors, which contain all of the components needed for cell growth, or continuous reactors, which have inlet and outlet ports allowing for the addition of fresh growth media and the removal of cell waste. This video presents batch and continuous reactors and demonstrates the use of bioreactors to grow bacteria in the laboratory.
01:20
Capillary Beds
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2024
Capillary beds are networks of tiny blood vessels that play a crucial role in the circulatory system. These beds are where the exchange of gases, nutrients, and waste products occurs between the blood and surrounding tissues. Each capillary bed consists of numerous capillaries, which are the smallest blood vessels in the body, typically only one cell-thick. This thinness allows for the efficient diffusion of substances. Capillaries connect arterioles, small branches of arteries, to venules,...
FAQs
Retaining cells, enzymes, or microorganisms within the bed allows biological activity to continue without rapid biomass washout in the exiting medium. This can support high local biological density and repeated or continuous processing. The benefit depends on maintaining suitable nutrient and oxygen delivery, because retained biomass can increase demand and make transport limitations more consequential.
Uniform fluid distribution helps expose the biological material to consistent concentrations of nutrients and oxygen. Channeling, in which flow preferentially follows limited pathways, can leave other regions under supplied and reduce effective bed utilization. Poor distribution may also contribute to uneven biological activity, while excessive pressure buildup can restrict operation and impair medium movement through the vessel.
As the packed bed becomes larger, supplying oxygen and nutrients throughout the stationary material can become more difficult. Regions distant from effective flow may receive less substrate or oxygen, lowering conversion even when total biomass is high. Scale-up therefore requires attention to fluid distribution, temperature, pressure buildup, and the balance between biological loading and transport capacity.
Operation requires a nutrient medium that can move through the porous bed while supporting the retained biological agents. Temperature, oxygen and nutrient transfer, and flow distribution are central control concerns. Monitoring pressure buildup and signs of channeling is also important, because these conditions can alter residence through the bed and create uneven reaction environments.
These systems can support fermentation, wastewater treatment, enzyme production, and synthesis of valuable biomolecules. Their usefulness comes from combining retained biological activity with continuous or repeated medium processing. The appropriate application depends on whether the biological agents convert substrates into products, remove components from wastewater, or generate enzymes and other biomolecules under controlled flow conditions.
Researchers can assess how effectively retained cells, enzymes, or microorganisms convert substrates into products under flowing-medium conditions. They can also examine productivity, the effects of high biological density, and evidence of transport problems such as uneven distribution or pressure buildup. These observations help determine whether the bed supports stable processing or requires improved operating conditions.