6533b85cfe1ef96bd12bd4b9

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Unbaffled, Stirred Bioreactors for Animal Cell Cultivation

Francesca ScargialiAntonio BusciglioAlberto Brucato

subject

Mass transfer coefficientMass transfer coefficientMaterials scienceSettore ING-IND/25 - Impianti ChimiciMixing timeBioreactortechnology industry and agricultureMixing (process engineering)Mechanical engineeringMechanicsequipment and suppliesmedicine.diseaseImpellerkLaUnbaffled tanksMixingFree surfaceMass transferMultiphase reactorBioreactormedicineFree surface shapeLiquid bubbleCell damageAnimal cell culture

description

One of the main features of animal cell bioreactors is that the cultured cells lack a strong membrane and are therefore more prone to shear damage. It is widely accepted that animal cell damage in aerated bioreactors is mainly related to burst bubbles at the air–liquid interface. A viable alternative to sparged bioreactors, aimed at minimizing cell damage, may be represented by uncovered, unbaffled, stirred tanks, which are able to provide sufficient mass transfer through the deep free surface vortex that takes place under agitation. As a consequence the need for bubble formation and subsequent bursting accompanied by cell damage is conveniently avoided. In this chapter, mass transfer performance and hydrodynamic features (e.g., free surface shape, mixing time, power consumption) of this kind of bioreactor are described. The effects of changing liquid viscosity, impeller geometry, and reactor aspect ratio are also discussed.

https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-444-63663-8.00005-7