A fermentor is a closed cylindrical vessel that supports biochemical and chemical activity of microorganisms to convert raw materials into useful products. It has controlling elements like temperature probes and pH electrodes. There are different types of fermentors including stirred tank, airlift, fluidized bed, and packed bed fermentors. A fermentor provides sterile conditions and mixing for uniform cultivation while controlling factors like temperature, pH, and oxygen levels.

1. FERMENTOR
BHUVANESWARI K

2. A Fermentor is a device used to accomplish the
fermentation process by using microorganisms, and for
this reason, it is also called
“Biofermentor or Bioreactor“.
What is Fermentor?

3. DEFINITION
A Fermentor can define as a closed cylindrical vessel
which supports the biochemical and chemical activity of the
microorganisms to carry the conversion of raw material
into some useful product.
In surface fermentation, the biomass is cultivated on the
surface of the raw substrate, while the microorganisms
grow in the raw substrate during submersion fermentation.

4. HISTORY
Year of discovery Name of the discoverer and their discovery
During 1914-15 A fermentor was developed for the production of acetone by the
scientist Chain Weizmann.
1930 Large scale aerobic fermentor was developed.
1934 In this year, aeration system, water and steam inlet flow was
introduced in a fermentor by the scientists Strauch and Schmidt.
1944 A fermentor was developed for the yeast production by the
scientists De Beeze and Liebmann for the large scale production.
1950 A fermentor was developed in India at Hindustan Antibiotic Ltd.,
Pune and named it as “Pilot fermentor”.

5. OBJECTIVES OF
FERMENTOR
The objectives include the production of metabolites, enzymes,
microbial biomass and recombinant product.

6. IDEAL PROPERTIES OF A FERMENTOR
• A fermentor should be made of a good quality material that can
withstand all the conditions inside the vessel.
• It should give high productivity.
• It should be able to handle the stream sterilization pressure.
• There should be all the control parameters to monitor the
fermentation process like pH electrode, temperature probe etc.
• A material used in the fermentor should be cheap that could give
satisfactory results

7. DESIGN OF
FERMENTOR

8. Basic components are necessary for the construction of fermentor,
which involves:
Top-plate
Inoculation pipe
Drive motor
Impeller shaft
Impeller
Stirrer
Baffle
Sparger
Drain point
Cooling jacket
BASIC ELEMENTS

9. CONTROLLING ELEMENTS
Pt-100: Monitors the temperature in the culture vessel.
Foam probe: It senses foam formation.
pH electrode: Monitors the pH in the culture vessel.
Oxygen sensor: Maintains the dissolved oxygen content level.
Heating pad: Provides heat to the medium.
Cold finger: It is a pipe that passes cold water inside a vessel to cool the contents.
Rotameter: Provides variable airflow into the culture vessel.
Pressure valve: Maintains the pressure.
Air pump: Supplies air throughout the medium.
Peristaltic pump: It pumps acid, base and antifoam into the medium

10. PROPERTIES OF A FERMENTOR
It should be reliable for long-term operation.
A fermentor should be capable of being operated aseptically or should
provide sterile conditions.
The bioreactor provides adequate aeration and agitation for uniform mixing
of the contents in the vessel.
It should consume less power.
A fermentor must be equipped with controlling probes that can maintain the
temperature, pH, oxygen level etc.
It facilitates the passage of inoculum and media into the vessel.
A bioreactor does not allow excessive evaporation loss.
It minimizes the labour input for the operation, harvesting, cleaning and
maintenance.

11. TYPES OF FERMENTOR
A fermentor is mainly of five types:
1. Stirred tank fermentor
2. Airlift fermentor
3. Fluidised bed fermentor
4. Packed bed fermentor
5. Photo fermentor

12. WORKING PRINCIPLE OF SCANNING
TUNNELING MICROSCOPY

13. ADVANTAGES
•It is easy to operate and easy to clean.
•Provides a good temperature control.
•The construction of stirred tank fermentor is quite simple.
•It has a low operating cost.
•It does not cause shear damage to the cells.
DISADVANTAGES
•It cannot be used for immobilized cells or enzymes.
•It has low volumetric productivity.

14. AIRLIFT FERMENTOR
It consists of a single container inside
which a hollow tube is present. This
hollow tube called “Draft tube”. There is a
gas flow inlet present at the bottom of the
fermentor, which allows the passage of
oxygen. Gas flow inlet is attached with the
perforated disc or tube that allows
continuous distribution of air.

15. ADVANTAGES
• It ensures adequate mixing.
• Consumes less energy.
• It favours the growth of aerobic cultures.
• Construction is simple.
• It can use both free and immobilized cells and enzymes.
• Widely used in SCP production.
• Avoids excessive heat generation.
DISADVANTAGES
• Lacks mechanical stirring arrangements.

16. FLUIDIZED BED FERMENTOR
The top portion of this bioreactor is more expanded.
This expansion reduces the velocity of the fluid.
Its bottom part is slightly narrow. It is designed in such a
way where:
•The solid retain inside the vessel.
•And, liquid flows out.

17. ADVANTAGES
Mixes the contents uniformly.
Maintains the uniform temperature gradient.
It can be used for continuous operation.
Produces higher volumetric productivity.
There is little or no clogging of particles.

18. PACKED BED FERMENTOR
It consists of a cylindrical vessel and a packed
bed with biocatalysts. The solid matrix that is
used for the
packed bed fermentor possess the
following properties:
•Porous or non-porous
•Highly compressible
•Rigid

19. ADVANTAGES
It has a low operation cost.
Provides continuous operation.
Separation of the biocatalyst is easy.
It is widely used in wastewater engineering.
DISADVANTAGES
There are undesired heat gradients.
Poor temperature control.
There is an alternation in the bed porosity.
Involves higher risk of particles clogging.

20. PHOTO FERMENTOR
This fermentor works under the
principle of light energy that involves
direct exposure to the sunlight or
through some artificial illumination.
It is extensively used for the production
of p-Carotene, astaxanthin etc. This
type of bioreactor is basically made of
glass or plastic. Photo fermentor
consists of:
A single container
Number of tubes or panels

21. Advantages
It gives higher productivity.
Provides a large surface and volume ratio.
Provides better control over the gas transfer.
Maintains uniform temperature gradient.
Disadvantages
Expensive method to carry out.
There is a technical difficulty in the process of sterilization.

22. CONCLUSION
A bioreactor or fermentor means bio: living organisms and reactor:
which gives energy. Therefore, we can conclude that fermentor is
the culture vessel where the microorganisms utilize all the
nutrients under optimum conditions inside a bioreactor into
desirable products. It performs bioconversion or modification of a
compound into a biological and biochemical compound like
antibiotics, enzymes, SCPs etc.

23. Advantages:
• STMs are versatile. They can be used in ultra high vaccum, air,
water and other liquids and gasses.
• STMs give there dimensional profile of surface, which allows
researchers to examine a multitude of characteristics, including
roughness, surface defects and molecule size.
• Lateral Resolution of 0.1 nm and 0.01 nm of resolution in depth
can be achieved.
Disadvantages:
• It is very expensive.
• It need specific training to operate effectively.
• STM need very clean surface, excellent vibration control while
operation, single atom tip.
MERITS AND DEMERITS

24. Several surfaces have been studied with the STM. The
arrangement of individual atoms on the metal surfaces
of gold, platinum, nickel, and copper have all been
accurately documented. The absorption and diffusion of
different species such as oxygen and the epitaxial growth of
gold on gold, silver on gold, and nickel on gold also have
been examined in detail.
APPLICATIONS

25. THANK YOU !