Finite Element Model to Predict the Bioconversion Rate of Glucose to Fructose using Escherichia coli K12 for Sugar Production from Date

Abstract

In this study, Bioconversion process of glucose to fructose from date syrup using Escherichia coli K12 is modeled using a commercial computational fluids dynamics (CFD) code fluent FLUENT 6.3.23 [8] which we implemented a user-defined functions (UDF) to simulate the interrelationships at play between various phases. A two phases CFD model was developed using an Eulerian -Eulerian approach to calculate the fructose volume fraction produced during time. The bioconversion process was studied as function of three initial concentration of glucose (0.14, 0.242 and 0.463 g L -1 ), three induction time (60, 120 and 180 mn) and three inoculum volume (100, 120 and 150 mL). The numerical results are compared with experimental data for bioconversion rate and show good agreement (R 2 = 0.894). The optimal condition of diffusion was obtained by applying an initial concentration of glucose less than 0.2 g L -1 and induction time great than 100 minutes.