Continuous ethanol production using cell recycle with a settler

Summary A system for a high-density culture of Zymomonas mobilis was tested using a reactor with cell recycle by means of a simple settler. Growth-limiting conditions were created by raising the temperature and lowering the amount of yeast-extract. In this case the biomass production decreased, while the specific ethanol productivity did not change markedly. Under these conditions we succeeded in creating a system with a productivity of 40.5 g.1^-1.h^-1. The choice for optimal design of the settler and optimal conditions has to be made by optimization taking into account economic and whole process considerations.