Antibiotics production in a fluidized bed reactor utilizing a transverse magnetic field

A mathematical model is developed to describe the performance of a three-ph ase fluidized bed reactor utilizing a transverse magnetic field. The model is based on the axially dispersed plug flow model for the bulk of liquid ph ase and on the Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The model equations are solved by the explicit finite difference method from transient to steady state condi tions. The results of the numerical simulation indicate that the magnetic f ield increases the degree of bioconversion. The mathematical model is exper imentally verified in a three-phase fluidized bed reactor with Penicillium chrysogenum immobilized on magnetic beads. The experimental results are wel l described by the developed model when the reactor operates in the stabili zed regime. At low and relatively high magnetic field intensities certain d iscrepancy in the model solution is observed when the model over estimates the product concentration.