Modelling and simulation of syngas fermentation for the production of biofuels precursors
2017
Kravchuk, Rostyslav
Production of acetic acid and ethanol by syngas fermentation process could be an alternative way of biofuel production, and is therefore of interest to study. In accordance to literature review, gas fermentation process can be implemented by the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway, where as a guarantor of his passage might be acetogenic bacteria. The purpose of this thesis is formation of a mathematical model of biological process and scrutiny of parameters that effect on production rate, such as the CO/H2 ratio, partial pressure, temperature and pH. Development of a mathematical model was based on Haldane model of microbial growth and thermodynamic calculations, for five potential products - ethanol, acetic acid, methanol, lactate and methane and transformation process from acetic acid to ethanol. Simulation was conducted to prove correctness of formed mathematical model and to show how can initial conditions effect on biofuel production rate. For this, were performed three sub-models (Model 1, 2 and 3) and Model 4, that include all sub-models as one process. Where Model 1 describes acetic acid production with carbon monoxide as electron donor; Model 2 - with hydrogen as electron donor; and Model 3 - transformation of acetic acid to ethanol. The simulation of Model 4 shows that the consumption of 𝐶𝑂, 𝐶𝑂2, 𝐻2 will take around 175 days under given conditions. Also, based on Model 4, was proved the influence of: • initial biomass value on lag phase (Test 1); • partial pressure on production rate (Test 2); • maximum specific substrate utilization rate on reaction time (Test 3). Studied process has a potential for further future research.
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