The primary use of Aeration is to provide microorganisms in submerged culture with sufficient oxygen for metabolic requirements. Agitation ensures that a uniform suspension of microbial cells is achieved in a homogenous nutrient medium. Aeration and agitation depend on fermentation.
There can be two types of cultures in a fermenter – batch or continuous, and they have been classified as a batch, fed-batch, or continuous cultures. Even, two types of fermentation can be performed in fermenters: submerged fermentation and surface fermentation. In submerged fermentation, the process occurs by microorganisms in a liquid medium, whereas in surface fermentation, the process occurs in a solid medium.
Fermentation is a metabolic process in which chemical breakdown of a substance by bacteria, yeasts or other microorganisms.
The main difference between bioreactor and fermentor is that bioreactor is the vessel that facilitates various types of biochemical reactions whereas the fermenter is the vessel that facilitates fermentation.
Bioreactor is an apparatus in which a chemical process is carried out which involves organisms or biochemically active substances derived from such organisms. It is used in industrial processes to produce pharmaceuticals, vaccines or antibodies.
A fermenter is a closed vessel that provides the optimum condition for the growth of micro-organism. A fermenter should provide an adequate arrangement for Aeration, Agitation, Regulation of factors like pH, temperature, pressure, nutrient feeding, sterilization, overflow vent to remove the waste biomass of cultured microorganisms along with their products.
These are the following types of industrial mixers: –
