Bioreactors differences from chemical reactors

Classification by End Use Chemical reactors are typically used for the synthesis of chemical intermediates for a variety of specialty (e.g., agricultural, pharmaceutical) or commodity (e.g., raw materials for polymers) applications. Polymerization reactors convert raw materials to polymers having a specific molecular weight and functionality. The difference between polymerization and chemical reactors is artificially based on the size of the molecule produced. Bioreactors utilize (often genetically manipulated) organisms to catalyze biotransformations either aerobically (in the presence of air) or anaerobically (without air present). Electrochemical reactors use electricity to drive desired reactions. Examples include synthesis of Na metal from NaCl and Al from bauxite ore. A variety of reactor types are employed for specialty materials synthesis applications (e.g., electronic, defense, and other). 

Flow dynamics predict that flow through a pipe is nonuniform with regard to velocity across the diameter of a pipe, for instance. The flow at pipe walls is assumed to be zero. In our idealized biochemical reactor, this concept is represented by a boundary layer in contact with the biofilm. It does not have, of course, a discrete dimension. Rather, it is represented as an area in the structure that has reduced flow and therefore different kinetics than what we would assume exist in a bulk liquid. The boundary layer is affected by turbulence and temperature and this is unavoidable to a degree. Diffusion within the boundary layers is controlled by the chemical potential difference based on concennation. Thus the rate of transfer of pollutant to the organisms is controlled by at least two physical chemical principles, and these principles differentiate an attached growth bioreactor from a suspended growth bioreactor. 

Biocatalysts are not always immobilized on membranes in bioreactors, though. As enzymes are macromolecules and often differ greatly in size from reactants they can be separated by size exclusion membrane filtration with ultra- or nano-filtration. This is used on an industrial scale in one type of enzyme membrane reactor for the production of enantiopure amino acids by kinetic racemic resolution of chemically derived racemic amino acids. The most prominent example is the production of L-methionine on a scale of 400 t/y (Liese et al, 2006). The advantage of this method over immobilization of the catalyst is that the enzymes are not altered in activity or selectivity as they remain solubilized. This principle can be applied to all macromolecular catalysts which can be separated from the other reactants by means of filtration. So far, only enzymes have been used to a significant extent. 

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