Fluid mixing is essential in fermentation processes. Usually the most critical steps in which mixers are used are in the aerobic fermentation process. However, mixers are also used in many auxiliary places in the fermentation process and there are places also for agitation in anaerobic fermentation steps

The introduction of fluidfoil impellers, as shown in Fig. 9a through 9f, give a wide variety of mixing conditions suitable for high flow and low fluid shear rates. Fluidfoil impellers use the principles developed in airfoil work in wind tunnels for aircraft. Figure 10a shows what is desirable, which is no form separation of the fluid, and maximum lift and drag coefficients, which is what one is trying to achieve with the fluidfoil impellers. Figure 10b shows

The theoretical concepts underlying filtration can be applied towards practical solutions in the field. Comprehension of the basic principles is necessary to select the proper equipment for an application. Theory alone, however, can never be the basis for selection of a filter. Filtration belongs to the physical sciences, and thus conclusions must be based on experimental assay. It is, however, helpful in understanding why a slurry is more suitable for one design of filtration equipment than another

Cross-flow filtration (CFF) also known as tangential flow filtration is not of recent origin. It began with the development of reverse osmosis (RO) more than three decades ago. Industrial RO processes include desalting of sea water and brackish water, and recovery and purification of some fermentation products. The cross-flow membrane filtration technique was next applied to the concentration and fractionation ofmacromolecules commonly recognized

must also consider heating andor cooling requirements as well as to deliver the desired head pressure to overcome hydraulic pressure drop. Operating costs must also consider equipment maintenance, cost of cleaning chemicals and labor costs

n 1850 Thompson['] reported the first ion exchange applications which used naturally occurring clays. However, ion exchange resins have only been used in biochemical and fermentation product recovery since the

The engineer designing an ion exchange column operation usually will prefer to work with the simplest kinetic model and linear driving force approximations. The weakness ofthis approach is that any driving force law only regards the momentary exchange rate as a hnction of the solute concentration in the bulk solution and the average concentration in the particle, neglecting the effect of concentration profiles in the particle

“Evaporation is the removal of solvent as a vapor from a solution or slurry. The vapor may or may not be recovered, depending on its value. The end product may be a solid, but the transfer of heat in the evaporator must be to a solution or a suspension of the solid in liquid if the apparatus is not to be classed as a dryer. Evaporators are similar to stills or re-boilers of distillation

Crystallization is one of the oldest methods known for recovering pure solids from a solution. The Chinese, for example, were using crystallization to recover common salt from water some 5000 years ago. The perfection and beauty of the crystal which fascinated the early tribes now leads to a product of high purity and attractive appearance

The solids-liquid separation process can be accomplished by filtration or centrifugation. Centrifuges magnify the force of gravity to separate phases, solids from liquids or one liquid from another. There are two general types of centrifuges: Sedimentation Centrifuges-where a heavy phase settles out from a lighter phase