Journal of Bioprocessing & Biotechniques

A Semi-Empirical Approach to Estimate Kinetic Parameters for the Batch and Continuous Settling of Flocculating Yeast Slurries

Abstract

Samuel Conceicao Oliveira and Reinaldo Giudici

The knowledge of sedimentation kinetics is a necessary requisite for an adequate design of settlers aiming the separation and recovery of yeasts in alcoholic fermentation processes. In this study, batch and continuous settling tests were performed using slurries of flocculating yeasts obtained from the fermentation of sugarcane juice in a tower reactor with cell recycling. The batch tests were conducted in a 250 mL cylindrical glass vessel with initial concentrations of yeast between 90 and 100 g/L by measuring the variation over time of the height of the interface between the clarified liquid and the thickened slurry. These data were conveniently converted into cell concentration of the thickened sludge and a semi-empirical equation was developed to estimate the kinetic parameters of the settling. Data taken in a continuous settler in two continuous fermentation systems of different scales with cell recycle were also well fitted by the semi-empirical equation, but the adjusted parameters were different from those obtained for the batch tests.