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A comparison of different types of reactors with biofilm reactors |
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| Reactor Type |
Comments |
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| Membrane reactor |
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| Advantages |
High productivities, high cell concentration can be achieved inside the reactor, clear permeates for further separation |
| Disadvantages |
Fouling with cells, cost prohibits their use in low cost large volume chemical production |
| Immobilized cell reactors |
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| Covalent bond formation |
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| Advantages |
High cell concentration may be achieved, high productivity |
| Disadvantages |
Cell growth inside matrix may be restricted, cells leach out of the matrix and hence centrifugation of effluent may be required, chemical may affect the cells |
| Entrapment |
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| Advantages |
High cell concentration may be achieved, high productivity |
| Disadvantages |
Matrix often starts disintegration with time, cells leach out of matrix, centrifugation of reactor effluents is required for further separation |
| Biofilm |
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| Advantages |
Comparatively high reactor productivities and high cell concentrations are achieved, reactors run longer and are economic to operate |
| Disadvantages |
Effluent centrifugation is required |
Qureshi et al. Microbial Cell Factories 2005 4:24 doi:10.1186/1475-2859-4-24 |
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