Dispersion optimization to enhance PHB production in fed-batch cultures of Ralstonia eutropha

Despite its many useful properties, microbial production of poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) is not yet commercially competitive with synthetic polymers. One reason is inadequate optimization of the fermentation under industrial conditions. In this study, a physiologically reasonable and experimentally validated kinetic model for PHB synthesis by Ralstonia eutropha was incorporated into a dispersion model to simulate a large fed-batch bioreactor. Solutions of the model indicated that cell growth and PHB synthesis were maximum at Peclet numbers (Pe) between 20 and 30, representing limited finite dispersion. At these Peclet numbers, the optimum feed rates also showed lower consumptions of the substrates than at Pe = 0. Since complete dispersion was also difficult to achieve in production-scale bioreactors, these results pointed to the possibility of exploiting controlled dispersion for productivity enhancement.