This document discusses four main types of bioreactors: stirred tank bioreactors, air lift bioreactors, bubble column bioreactors, and fluidized bed bioreactors. Stirred tank bioreactors can carefully control temperature, pH, oxygen, and nutrients using mechanical agitation. Air lift bioreactors are well-suited for large-scale plant cell cultivation using compressed air for aeration and mixing without moving parts. Bubble column bioreactors are simple cylindrical vessels aerated from below, providing high heat and mass transfer without mechanical energy input. Fluidized bed bioreactors are similar to bubble columns but have an expanded top to reduce fluid velocity and retain solids while liquid exits.

1. DIFFERENT TYPES OF
BIOREACTER
PREPARED BY: SHIVAM PATEL
SUBJECT: BIOPROCESS ENGINEERING
ENROLLMENT NO.:14BT001830

2. Stirred Tank Bioreactor
• In this bioreactor air is dispersed by mechanical
agitation. Temperature, pH, amount of dissolved
oxygen and nutrient concentration can be
controlled better with this reactor compared to other
reactors.
• Impeller speed is reduced to 50-150 rpm

5. Air lift bioreactor
• Compressed air is used for aeration and mixing of the
contents.
• This is one of the most suitable bioreactor types for
cultivation of plant cells on a large scale.
Merits:
• It provides reasonable mixing and oxygen transfer at low
shear.
• As it has no moving parts, it has less contamination
problem.
• Operating cost is lower than stirred tank reactor.
Demerit:
• Develop dead zones, due to insufficient mixing at high cell
density

7. Bubble column bioreactor
• This is one of the simplest bioreactor. It consists of a
cylindrical vessel aerated at the bottom.
• Provide high mass and heat transfer areas without
the input of mechanical energy.
• Require minimum maintenance.

8. Fluidized Bed Bioreactors
• Fluidized bed bioreactor is comparable to bubble
column bioreactor except the top position is
expanded to reduce the velocity of the fluid.
• The design of the fluidized bioreactors (expanded top
and narrow reaction column) is such that the solids
are retained in the reactor while the liquid flows out.
• These bioreactors are suitable for use to carry out
reactions involving fluid suspended biocatalysts such
as immobilized enzymes, immobilized cells, and
microbial flocs.

10. •Advantages:
1. Uniform particle
mixing.
2. Uniform
temperature
gradient.
3. Ability to operate
reactor in
continuous state.
•Dis-advantages:
1. Increased reactor
vessel size.
2. Pumping
requirement.
3. Pressure drop.