PEC12-25 CAPEC-PROCESS Industrial Consortium ... - DTU Orbit

3.3 Post-Doctoral Research Project Overview
Miguel Mauricio Iglesias
(MMI)
CAPEC
Supervisors: GSI
Start: 01-01-2012; End: 30-09-2012
Mathias Nordblad (MAN)
PROCESS
Supervisors: JW
Start: 01-12-2008; End: 31-11-2012
Model-based scale-up of bioprocesses
Scale-up is an important step in the development and
commercialization of new process technologies in many
industries, for production of chemicals such enzymes,
antibiotics or materials such as bioplastics. Moving a
fermentation process from a lab-scale to a commercial/
production scale remains still challenging due to a number of
factors that affects biological response of cells to changing
conditions from cultivation. Scale-up problems may arise
then due to inadequate interphase mass transfer, heat removal
and non-uniform temperature and concentration gradients in
the reactor. As a result, many large-scale fermentation
processes give a lower yield than achieved in the laboratory.
This project conducted as part of DSF funded EcoDesign
aims at developing a framework for scale-up of bioreactors
based on data and information translated into quantitative
knowledge using models. The framework allows using
multiobjective scale-up principles and various degree of
models, from first-principles to empirical (e.g. response
surface type models based on experimental data) to hybrid
models.
Research area: B, D
Process design and evaluation for enzymatic biodiesel
production
Biodiesel is one of the more established renewable fuel
alternatives. It is traditionally produced using alkaline
catalysis, which comes with certain limitations.
The use of enzymatic catalysis promises several advantages
over traditional production method, including higher yields,
compatibility with a wider range of oil feedstocks and a safer
process. Additionally, the mild reaction conditions also
reduce the need for product purification and increase the
value of the by-product glycerol. However, the process
requires development and optimization to meet criteria for
performance and operating costs.
The focus of this project is the reaction and process design
for enzymatic biodiesel production, based on evaluation of
the performance of individual unit operations and overall
process economics. The project is part of, and supported by, a
larger collaboration looking into catalyst and reactor
performance in enzyme-catalyzed biodiesel reactions, as well
as system thermodynamics and sustainability issues.
Collaborators: Emmelev; Novozymes; Aarhus University;
DTU Management