Interpret and label a diagram of an industrial fermenter and explain the need to provide suitable conditions in the fermenter, including aseptic precautions, nutrients, optimum temperature and pH, oxygenation and agitation, for the growth of microorganisms
The industrial fermenter is the reaction vessel in which fermentation occurs. It is usually built out of metal such as copper or steel. Inside the steel jacket there is usually another steel jacket inside, and in between it contains water which made up the cooling jacket. Once the fermentation gets going it produces heat, and this cools down the reaction to keep temperature at optimum temperature.
The fermenter will need to be cleaned and that's why we have a tubelike inlet which allows the steam to be pass into the fermenter. The steam will be sterilizing fermenter between fermentations (after finish producing the product and we need to clean the tank out).
Within the fermenter there will be a heating plate to raise the temperature, which is called heater.
Heater + Fermenter ---> Keep at optimum condition
For fermentation to occur, we have to put nutrient into the tank, so there is a tap or pipework to insert nutrient as foods for microorganism.
To measure the internal temperature there is a temperature probe in the fermenter and it will tell us whether to apply the heater or the cooling jacket.
The reaction will also require the addition of microorganism (so we have another tap for that). Reaction occurs inside the tank.
We also require a pH probe as we are trying to keep the pH level at the optimum rate.
We are also going to need a way to stir the reaction. This is going to be done by having a motor inside the fermenter and this will agitate the mixture, stopping it from clamming together and spreading the microorganism throughout the mixture.
At the end of reaction, we will need a way to drain off the product. This is called downstream processing which involves purification
Overall, the fermenter is to keep the optimum growth conditions for the microorganisms so it is able to produce the product that we are looking for.
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