Air-lift Loop Bioreactor

Biofuel is an omnipresent term these days! Frantic efforts are underway around the globe to produce the next best thing to fossil fuel…

Amidst all this, a team of scientists from the University of Sheffield, UK have developed an innovative device that might make the production of alternative biofuels far more energy efficient!

What is it?

A unique bioreactor called an air-lift loop bioreactor for use in the production of alternative renewable fuels. (We have already discussed what a bioreactor is in a previous article. Not quite sure yet? Click here)

Impress me…

This particular bioreactor creates microbubbles using 18% less energy consumption. Microbubbles are miniature gas bubbles of less than 50 microns diameter in water. They are able to transfer materials in a bioreactor much more rapidly than larger bubbles produced by conventional bubble generation techniques and they consume much less energy. This creation therefore has the potential to revolutionize the energy-efficient production of biofuel!

Manufacture of biofuels…

Currently requires vast amounts of power and this makes the process uneconomic. The new method uses much less energy and thus can be vital to the ‘green’ production of alternative fuels!

Anyone else impressed by this innovation?

Absolutely! In recognition of this breakthrough, the team has been awarded the Moulton Medal, an international award from the Institution of Chemical Engineers, which recognizes the best paper published in the Institution’s journal every year!