Experimental & Empirical Correlations for the Determination of the Overall Volumetric Mass Transfer Coefficients of Carbon Dioxide in Stirred Tank Bioreactors

Author

Syeda Anam Kazim, The University of Western OntarioFollow

Degree

Master of Engineering Science

Program

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering

Supervisor

Dr. Amarjeet Bassi

Abstract

One of the most important parameters to cultivate microalgae is carbon dioxide absorption by microalgae. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the overall volumetric mass transfer coefficient (K_La) of carbon dioxide to quantify CO₂ transfer from the gaseous to the liquid phase. Until now, finding K_La of CO₂ for microalgae cultivation has been a challenge as there is not much information available about it in the literature and most of the time the CO₂ transfer to microalgae is approximated. In this study, correlations to directly calculate K_La of CO₂ in a stirred tank bioreactor are developed, and the combination of the parameters: 2000 ml/min, 350 rpm and 3% CO₂ content in air was found to be optimum for enhanced K_La of CO₂ in a stirred tank bioreactor.

Recommended Citation

Kazim, Syeda Anam, "Experimental & Empirical Correlations for the Determination of the Overall Volumetric Mass Transfer Coefficients of Carbon Dioxide in Stirred Tank Bioreactors" (2012). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 815.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/815