Gas pressure intensifying oxygen transfer to significantly improving
bio-oxidation productivity of whole-cell catalysis
Abstract
Oxygen, as a terminal electron acceptor, is an essential substrate in
the aerobic bio-oxidation process, affecting bacterial vitality and
bio-oxidation performance. In this study, a new and smart platform
biotechnology of sealed-oxygen supply bioreactor (SOS-BR) was developed
by improving gas pressure to significantly intensify oxygen transfer
rate and resolving the formidable barriers of aerobic catalysis. In
virtue of SOS-BR, the bio-productivity was greatly improved for three
representative substrates (xylose, furfural, glycerol) bio-oxidation
with the whole-cell catalysis of Gluconobacter oxydans. The
determination of oxygen transfer coefficient (KLα) established an
upgraded theoretical dynamic model for gas pressure intersification
biosystem. Additionally, viscosity measurement and combined pressure
control strategy explained the inflection point phenomenon of
productivity and confirmed the intensify mechanism. The new strategy of
significantly intensifying oxygen transfer provided insightful ideas for
overcoming the subbon obstacle of obligate aerobic catalysis, and
further promoted industrial practicability of bio-oxidation.