Gas-Liquid Mass Transfer in Bioreactors and Fermentors

In biochemical and chemical engineering, ensuring adequate oxygen supply to living cells is one of the most critical challenges in scaling up bioreactors. This text-only course provides a clear, foundational guide to understanding how gases dissolve and transport through liquids during biological reactions. You will transition from basic physical chemistry concepts to practical engineering models used to design and optimize industrial fermentation processes. Learn to analyze mass transfer coefficients, calculate oxygen uptake rates, and evaluate the impact of fluid dynamics on microbial growth. Understand how to model simultaneous gas diffusion and chemical reactions using modern dimensionless analysis. Build a solid foundation in the mathematical models that describe gas-liquid transport in stirred-tank and airlift fermentors. Practice applying these formulas to real-world engineering scenarios through structured written exercises. This course is designed for engineering students, biochemists, and technical professionals new to bioprocess scale-up, requiring only a basic background in general chemistry and algebra. Start mastering the core transport principles that drive successful bioprocessing today.