Dynamic mathematical modelling of reaction kinetics for xylitol fermentation using Candida tropicalis

• The model developed considering limitation and inhibition of the cell and xylitol.
• Mixing correlation and mass balance in the bioreactor was initiated in the model.
• The simulated model obtains a good fit to the experimental data.
• High xylose concentration consequent in the reduction of cell growth.
• KLa value increase while decrease xylitol production rate.

Xylitol is an extracellular sugar alcohol produced by the biological conversion of xylose through the fermentation process. The present study investigates the reaction kinetics of xylitol fermentation by considering the effect of substrate and product concentration on the microbial growth rate. A 3.5-L batch fermentation produced xylitol at different xylose concentrations and agitation speeds. The experimental data showed that the xylose concentration limit was less than 100 g/L and that increasing the xylose concentration reduced the xylitol and cell yields. The optimum agitation speed was 400 rpm with a kLa value of 32.6 h−1. The experimental data were used to estimate the unknown parameters with gPROMS software. The Monod model was modified to include the inhibitory effect of the substrate and the limitation effect of dissolved oxygen on cell growth.