ISSN:
0006-3592
Keywords:
Chemistry
;
Biochemistry and Biotechnology
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Process Engineering, Biotechnology, Nutrition Technology
Notes:
The possibilities of using liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) heavy ends, predominantly volatile liquid n-alkanes (a location-specific hydrocarbon feedstock) for single-cell protein (SCP) production are examined against criteria established to define potentially attractive SCP production processes. The factors discussed include the use of the heat of vaporization for fermentor cooling, the efficiency of conversion of nalkane vapors, problems of maintaining constant composition substrates when feeding volatile liquid n-alkane vapors to laboratory fermentors, the possible solvent effect of liquid n-alkanes, and the possibilities of competitive inhibition. The study confirms that mixed volatile n-alkane feedstocks will introduce major physical and biological problems for both product and process research and development. Even when the technical problems are solved, the economic question of whether a direct production route using the feedstock as the fermentation substrate or an indirect route involving the conversion of the feedstock, by chemical means, into methanol, which can then be used as the fermentation substrate, needs careful examination.
Additional Material:
4 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/bit.260220508
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