SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MICRO-AERATION BASED FERMENTATION

摘要

A method and apparatus for micro-aeration of large scale fermentation systems is provided. The micro-aeration system includes a fermentation reactor, a sparging apparatus, and a micro-aeration gas mixture delivered to the fermentation reactor via the sparging apparatus. The micro-aeration gas mixture is a very low oxygen concentration mixture comprising an oxygen containing gas and an inert carrier gas that is preferably recycled through the fermentation reactor. The inert carrier gas is preferably nitrogen whereas the oxygen containing gas is oxygen or and is introduced to the fermentation reactor at a minimum superficial velocity of about 0.02 m/sec to produce a uniform dispersion of the oxygen/air throughout the fermentation broth while concurrently mixing the entire fermentation broth. The micro-aeration method and apparatus further comprises a controller operatively coupled to one or more control valves for regulating the micro-aeration conditions in the fermentation reactor.