Heat analysis of a sugarcane bagasse and wheat bran system in rotating drum bioreactor for cellulase production

This research supports the development of a rotating bioreactor for the production of cellulolytic enzymes through solid-state fermentation, with thermophilic fungi and a sugarcane bagasse and wheat bran system as substrate. This study was carried out in order to thermally analyze the bioreactor. We used a rotating drum made of stainless steel, equipped with a water-cooling jacket and an internal tube so that air could be inserted into the medium. In order to simplify the analysis, there was no growth of microorganisms. Filling degree, fixed position and drum rotation, presence and absence of air, and water sprinkling were studied. The most efficient method to control the temperature was water spraying. The wet air inlet during the experiments provided moisture stability to the particles. The experiments carried out with the drum in a fixed position had expressive radial temperature gradients, which were practically eliminated in similar experiments with drum rotation.