Innovative Bioreactor Design and Advanced Optimization Strategies for Biorefineries and Bioprocessing

A special issue of Processes (ISSN 2227-9717). This special issue belongs to the section "Biological Processes and Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 March 2025 | Viewed by 5780

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Chemical Process and Energy Resources Institute—CPERI/LPRE, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas—CERTH, Thessaloniki 57001, Greece
Interests: photobioreactors; fermentation; microalgae; biopolymers; biorefinery; biofuels; nanocellulose; bioprocess modeling; techno-economic analysis; biomass
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Guest Editor Assistant
Chemical Process and Energy Resources Institute—CPERI/LPRE, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas—CERTH, Thessaloniki 57001, Greece
Interests: microalgae; photobioreactors; CO2 capture; techno-economic analysis; biopolymers; biomolecules; nanomaterials; agro-industrial wastes; colloids; emulsifying agents

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Bioreactors are increasingly essential for various industries such as pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, agriculture, environmental remediation, and bioenergy. Specifically, novel design and optimization of bioreactors are critical for enhancing efficiency and productivity within biorefineries and bioprocessing systems, addressing contemporary challenges in the bioeconomy. This entails consideration of parameters such as reactor type, agitation, aeration, temperature, pH control, and nutrient supply. Optimization techniques, including mathematical modeling and statistical analysis, aid in maximizing product yield, minimizing production costs, and ensuring process robustness.

In biorefineries, where multiple products are derived from biomass and wastes, integrated bioreactor systems are indispensable. These systems should be adaptable to various feedstocks and capable of handling complex microbial communities. Advanced monitoring and control strategies enable real-time adjustments to optimize performance. Furthermore, the integration of downstream processing units enhances product purification and recovery. Beyond technical advancements in bioreactors, ensuring their economic and environmental sustainability is of paramount importance.

In this context, the aim of this Special Issue of Processes is to attract high-quality original research contributions and review articles in the field of “Innovative Bioreactor Design and Advanced Optimization Strategies for Biorefineries and Bioprocessing”. This could include individual experimental and theoretical studies or combined approaches.

Specific topics for the Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Design of innovative bioreactor configurations, including photo-bioreactors.
  • 2G and 3G biorefineries for energy, fuels and materials.
  • Fermentative production of biofuels, biochemicals, and biopolymers.
  • Hybrid (photo-)bioreactor systems for bioremediation and wastewater treatment.
  • Microbial activity towards bioprocessing and downstream processing.
  • Experimental and model-based intensification and scale-up of bioproduction systems.
  • Advanced multi-scale modeling and simulation of complex bioreactor phenomena.
  • Versatile monitoring and efficient control systems for bioreactors.
  • Techno-economic assessment and Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of multi-purpose bioreactors.

Dr. Giannis Penloglou
Guest Editor

Dr. Alexandros Pavlou
Guest Editor Assistant

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Keywords

  • bioreactor
  • photobioreactor
  • fermentation
  • biorefinery
  • bioprocessing
  • microbial production
  • monitoring and control
  • mathematical modeling and simulation
  • techno-economic assessment
  • life cycle analysis

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 3614 KiB  
Article
Process Synthesis, Design and Techno-Economic Assessment of Malonic Acid Production
by Virginia Ioannidou, Nikiforos Misailidis, Demetri Petrides and Michael C. Georgiadis
Processes 2024, 12(11), 2559; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12112559 - 16 Nov 2024
Viewed by 662
Abstract
This work focuses on the design and techno-economic evaluation of an industrial facility for the production of malonic acid. The raw material utilized is commercial glucose syrup with a concentration of 95%. Based on a patent of Lygos, Inc., an innovative biotechnology research [...] Read more.
This work focuses on the design and techno-economic evaluation of an industrial facility for the production of malonic acid. The raw material utilized is commercial glucose syrup with a concentration of 95%. Based on a patent of Lygos, Inc., an innovative biotechnology research company, this study presents a comprehensive synthesis, design, and simulation framework for the production of malonic acid through oligosaccharide fermentation. An integrated process flowsheet is proposed and simulated using SuperPro Designer™. The analysis indicates that for an installation capacity of about 8000 MT/yr of the final product with a purity of 99.5%, the production cost is estimated at USD 7.92/kg. A comprehensive study of the capacity’s impact on economics reveals that this cost could decrease to as low as USD 6.05/kg. A parametric analysis and optimization conducted at the flowsheet level identifies opportunities for further reducing production costs, laying the groundwork for a potential decrease in the product’s selling price. Full article
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Review

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18 pages, 3187 KiB  
Review
Recent Advancements in Photo-Bioreactors for Microalgae Cultivation: A Brief Overview
by Giannis Penloglou, Alexandros Pavlou and Costas Kiparissides
Processes 2024, 12(6), 1104; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12061104 - 28 May 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3926
Abstract
Inspired by the vast potential of microalgae in the bioeconomy and the numerous applications and benefits associated with their cultivation, a multitude of pilot- and industrial-scale microalgae production systems have been developed in recent years. Both open and closed cultivation systems have been [...] Read more.
Inspired by the vast potential of microalgae in the bioeconomy and the numerous applications and benefits associated with their cultivation, a multitude of pilot- and industrial-scale microalgae production systems have been developed in recent years. Both open and closed cultivation systems have been successfully utilized, with closed photo-bioreactors (PBRs) emerging as the most versatile option for various applications and products, enabling the implementation of advanced optimization strategies. Therefore, this short review provides a comprehensive overview of the different PBR configurations and their recent applications, primarily in large-scale but also in pilot- and laboratory-scale microalgae cultivation. A detailed discussion of the advantages, limitations, specific applications and recent advancements of each type of PBR is presented to aid researchers, engineers and industry stakeholders in selecting the most suitable PBR design for their specific goals and constraints. Moreover, this review highlights the major challenges impeding the full commercialization of microalgal products and forecasts future trends in the microalgae-based industry. The diverse potential applications of microalgae in various sectors, including biofuels, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, agriculture and environmental remediation, underscore the versatility and significance of the relevant cultivation technologies. By offering valuable insights into the future commercial scale and trends of microalgal biotechnology, this work sheds light on the challenges and opportunities facing this burgeoning industry. Full article
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