Bioreactors and Culture Techniques for Microbial Processes

Current bioreactors are grouped into either culture vessels and reactors using biocatalysts (e.g., immobilized enzymes/microorganisms) or plant and animal tissues. The latter is sometimes used to mean the bioreactor. 

Culture techniques can be classified into batch, fed-batch, and continuous operation (Table 2). In batch processes, all the nutrients required for cell growth and product formation are present in the medium prior to cultivation. Oxygen is supplied by aeration. The cessation of growth reflects the exhaustion of the limiting substrate in the medium. For fed-batch processes, the usual fed-batch and the repeated fed-batch operations are listed in Table 2. 

A fed-batch operation is that operation in which one or more nutrients are added continuously or intermittently to the initial medium after the start of cultivation or from the halfway point through the batch process. Details 

Bubble column with a draft tube for gyration flow 

Repeated fed-batch process (cyclic fed-batch process) 

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