Chemical Engineering Journal, Vol.65, No.3, 201-207, 1997
Optimum operating conditions in closed-system industrial acetifiers (semi-continuous operation): a study by computer simulation
This work analyzes the behaviour of an industrial acetification process in a closed system, by means of simulation techniques, testing several semi-continuous strategies, under different conditions of feed and discharge criteria. The simulator is based on a global model for the growth of Acetobacter aceti in submerged culture, which reflects the combined effects of acetic acid, ethanol and oxygen. The optimum operating conditions have been calculated for processes with both discharge at a set time and discharge at a set product concentration (acetic acid). In both cases, the effect on the evolution of the fermentation process by the ethanol and acetic acid concentration in the feed has been analyzed.