Diseño y Construcción de un Bioreactor Batch Aerobio para Cultivo de Bacterias Biodegradadoras de Petróleo

Abstract

A batch bioreactor was designed and built to cultivate oil biodegrading bacteria for the Center of Technical Services of Environmental Technology Transfer CESTTA of the Faculty of Sciences of the Polytechnic School of Chimborazo. The sizing of the equipment was done based on laboratory tests carried out at CESTTA with which, by varying the parameters involved in the process, the following operating conditions were established: it works at a temperature of 35C to 120C +- 3C. Engineering calculations were performed to determine the volumes of the culture chamber and jacket, power and characteristics of the agitation system. According to these calculations, the bioreactor is a double jacketed Batch type, it contains a boiler with 2 electrical resistances used for heating and sterilization of the culture, it is controlled by thermocouples and PLC. The equipment has a capacity of 100 L, with a diameter of 40 cm. and a height of 46 cm, it has a motor power for agitation of 0.48HP, AISI 304 stainless steel of 4 mm thickness was used for the structure. An Aerobic Batch Bioreactor was obtained with the required operating conditions, which performs a 100% production of bacteria, with a yield of 90% biodegradation of the treated soil, thus becoming a practical equipment for bacterial growth and development. It is recommended to apply the aerobic Batch bioreactor to cultivate oil biodegrading bacteria and in this way bioremediate soils and avoid environmental contamination.