Three‐dimensional‐printed millireactor with yeast immobilized in calcium‐alginate film for application in fermentation processes

Abstract

An innovative method of alcoholic fermentation was proposed by developing a microfluidic device with millichannels filled with yeast immobilized in alginate hydrogel, manufactured by a new robotic system. We propose and build an automatic equipment consisting of a modified three‐dimensional (3D) printer with two independent systems, a module with a syringe for the injection of solutions/hydrogels and a conventional head with a fused filament fabrication mechanism. The methodology consisted of hydrogel 3D printing tests, the manufacture of millireactors with immobilized yeast and the application of the millireactors in alcoholic fermentation. The 22G needle provided the best printing accuracy in tests with hydrogel. The cells were homogeneously distributed by alginate and their concentration did not influence ethanol production. The optimal millireactor configuration was 2% alginate solution containing 25 g L−1 cells, achieved average ethanol production of 11.24 ± 0.015 g L−1, with productivity of 22.49 g L−1 h−1 and efficiency of 44%.

Microfluidics and the Spirits Industry: A Review

“…Lopes et al [74] developed and validated a 3D printed millireactor with passages loaded with yeast trapped in alginate hydrogel for alcoholic fermentation. The best millireactor configuration was a 2% of alginate solution with 25 g/L cells, which produced 11.24± 0.015 g/L of ethanol on average, with a productivity of 22.49 g/L-h and a 44% efficiency.…”

Mechanism and kinetic study for the intensification of two‐step synthesis of a dolutegravir intermediate in microreactor

“…where x 1 is the ratio of the concentration of B to that of DTG-4. Since the other steps are faster than the cleavage of the carbon-oxygen bond (i.e., the rate-determining step), it is assumed that there is no concentration accumulation for C, D, E and F. Therefore, the steadystate hypothesis can be made for the formation of C, D, E and F, and their equilibrium equations are written as follows: The combination of Equations ( 10)-( 14) will give Equation (15):…”

“…10 Compared with batch reactors, the apparent improvement of heat and mass transfer rates 11 in microreactors are attributed to the smaller characteristic size 12 and larger specific surface area. 13 As a result, microreactors can meet the demands of isothermal conditions, 14 well-controlled reaction selectivity, 15 short residence time, 16 and enhanced safety of plenty of reaction processes, 17 which are also used as the satisfying tools for kinetic measurements. 18 Microreactor technology as a strong process intensification platform has been developed rapidly in recent decades.…”