The document discusses different types of bioreactors or fermenters used in industry. It lists 17 major structural variations or designs of bioreactors including stirred tank reactors, bubble column reactors, air lift reactors, tower reactors, fluidized bed reactors, packed bed reactors, flocculated cell reactors, photo bioreactors, membrane bioreactors, acetators, cavitators, cylindro-conical vessels, Waldhof-type fermenters, cyclone column bioreactors, deep jet fermenters, rotating disc fermenters, hollow fibre reactors, microcarriers, and perfusion cultures. Bioreactors provide a containment system to cultivate microorganisms under the right environmental conditions for optimal growth,

1. Types of Bioreactors or Fermenters
Dr. Dhanya KC
Assistant Professor, Department of
Microbiology
St. Mary’s College, Thrissur-20, Kerala

2. Bioreactors or Fermenters
A device to cultivate microorganisms – products
Containment system - right environment
Optimal growth and metabolic activity
Maximum production

3. Major structural variations or designs of
bioreactors used in industry

4. 1. Stirred tank reactors or Continuous Stirred Tank
Bioreactors
Sparger

5. 2. Bubble column reactors

6. 3. Air lift reactors

7. Tower reactor

8. 4. Fluidized bed reactors (FBR)

9. 5. Packed bed reactors

10. 6. Flocculated cell reactors
7. Photo bioreactors (PBR)
8. Membrane Bioreactor

11. 6. Flocculated cell reactors
7. Photo bioreactors (PBR)
8. Membrane Bioreactor

12. 6. Flocculated cell reactors
7. Photo bioreactors (PBR)
8. Membrane Bioreactor

13. 9. Acetator and Cavitator

14. 10. Cylindro-conical vessels

15. 11. The Waldhof-type fermenter
Top view of Waldhof aeration wheel

16. 13. The cyclone column bioreactor
12. Deep jet fermenter

17. 13. The cyclone column bioreactor
12. Deep jet fermenter

18. 14. Rotating disc fermenter
(Rotating disc contactors)

19. 15. Hollow fibre reactor
16. Microcarriers
17. Perfusion cultures

20. References
• Principles of fermentation technology, PF Stanbury, A Whittakker, SJ Hall
• Industrial Biotechnology, Lesson 6: Types Of Bioreactor, Rai University