A comparison of mass transfer coefficients between trickle-bed, hollow fiber membrane and stirred tank reactors

► Caution should be used when simply comparing the KtotA/VL values between reactors. ► PDMS-hollow fiber membrane (HFR) provided the highest KtotA/VL of 1062 h−1. ► Trickle-bed reactor (TBR) with 6 mm beads provided a KtotA/VL of 421 h−1. ► Stirred tank reactor (STR) provided a KtotA/VL of 114 h−1. ► We discuss scale-up parameters for TBR, HFR and STR for syngas fermentation.