To better understand the facets of nutrient utilization, a series of in vivo and in vitro studies were undertaken to elucidate the effect of supplementation on utilization of moderate-quality bermudagrass hay and to identify mechanisms to evaluate the role of rumen bacterial populations on feedstuff utilization. A digestion trial was conducted using 6 ruminally cannulated steers receiving bermudagrass hay supplemented with soybean hulls (HULLS), cracked corn (CORN), or soybean hulls and cracked corn (MIX; 75% and 25%, respectively) in a 3x3 Latin Rectangle arrangement. Additionally, ruminal fluid was continuously cultured using the BioFlo® 110 fermentation system to evaluate the in vitro fermentive parameters of ground moderate-quality bermudagrass hay either alone (HAY; 20 g DM L-1 d-1) or supplemented (7 g DM L-1 d-1) with corn (CORN), soybean hulls (SBH), or both (25:75; MIX) in a randomized complete block. Genomic DNA from continuous culture as well as from pure bacterial culture samples were sought to differentially enumerate select bacterial strains via real-time PCR using specie-specific DNA primers. The information is to be used for elucidating responses in ruminal digestibility of varying feed-types. Finally, as an alternative to PCR, bioluminescence of transformed Escherichia coli was evaluated by measuring extent of photonic emission with and without antibiotic selection over time. Evaluations were also made of photonic emission by E. coli grown in ruminal fluid with and without additional feed particles. Data seem to indicate that replacing a portion of corn with soybean hulls may successfully improved fiber digestion and improved ruminal N-utilization. Real-time PCR shows potential for evaluating ruminal bacteria where as biophotonics may need further modification before meaningful in situ evaluations of live ruminants can be employed.

No description available.

A 2-year grazing study was conducted to evaluate the growth performance, ruminal fermentation, carcass characteristics, and fatty acid compositions in subcutaneous adipose tissue of beef steers grazing tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Shreb.; TF) pastures without or with N fertilization. Nitrogen fertilization increased crude protein concentration of TF pasture and average daily gain of beef steers. Increase in total volatile fatty acids (VFA) and ammonia-N (NH3-N) concentrations were detected in steers grazing fertilized TF. In comparison with steers on feedlot, pasture-finished steers had greater proportions of cis-9, trans-11 CLA and C18:3 n-3, but lower n-6:n-3 ratio in adipose tissue. In the first in vitro study using 2 energy supplements [corn or dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS)] and 4 pasture mixture forages [TF without or with N fertilizer (TF˗NF or TF+NF), TF-alfalfa mixture (TF+AF), and TF-birdsfoot trefoil mixture (TF+BT)], we found that corn supplementation increased total VFA and propionate concentrations, while DDGS supplementation decreased total VFA concentrations. Lower NH3-N concentration and methane (CH4) production were observed due to energy supplementation, in particular when corn grain was supplemented. Similar NH3-N:VFA ratios were detected in the cultures fed the TF+NF and the TF+BT. This result indicates that the TF+BT had similar fermentation efficiency on in vitro ruminal metabolism compared with the TF+NF. The second in vitro study was performed to investigate the effects of grass-to-legume ratios of 3 different TF-legume mixed diets on in vitro fermentation characteristics in continuous cultures. Propionate concentration increased with the increasing of legume proportion in the mixed diets. The greatest propionate concentration was shown by cultures fed the TF+CM, while the TF+AF and the TF+BT maintained a similar propionate concentration. Increasing legume proportion in the forage diets also increased NH3-N concentration, but decreased CH4 production in the cultures. Further decrease of CH4 production was recorded when the TF+BT was fed to the cultures. Overall results from the grazing study demonstrate that N fertilizer can improve nutrient quality of TF as well as growth performance of grazing steers, while the in vitro studies showed positive effects of grass-legume mixture diets on in vitro microbial metabolism by improving ruminal fermentation and reducing CH4 production.

Continuous culture fermentation (CCF) was used to test the hypotheses that: marine microalgae (MA) and macroalgae (seaweeds) alter rumen microbial metabolism; MA types differ in abilities to provide rumen escape n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA); and algae have the potential to reduce enteric methane emission. The CCF system of Teather and Sauer (1988) was modified to reduce clogging, refrigerate effluent, and allow for determination of gas production. The CCF systems were inoculated with pooled rumen fluid from 4 cows. Total mixed ration was fed at the rate of 30 g DM d-1. Temperature was maintained at 39 oC, and buffered with artificial saliva to maintain pH 6.2. Response variables were measured from effluent digesta (fatty acids, NH4+-N, digestibility), fermentor contents (CCF density, volatile fatty acids), and the gas phase (CO2, CH4). The experimental design for MA testing was a 3**3 factorial. Treatments consisted of heterotrophic and photoautotrophic MA as well as a 1:1 blend with protection levels of zero, 33 and 50 % of encapsulation (w/w), and fluid turnover rates of 5, 7.5, and 10 % h-1. The seaweed treatments consisted of a PEI shoreweed mix containing Laminaria longicruris and Fucus vesiculosus tested as a component of the mix, and Chondrus crispus and Furcellaria fastigiata tested individually. The design for seaweed testing was an unbalanced 5*5 Latin square. The heterotrophic MA destabilized the digesta mat while the autotroph improved stability. Biohydrogenation was extensive for C18 FA in the basal ration (> 90 %) and less for C22:6n3 (75 %) from the heterotroph and C20:5n3 (60 %) from the photoautotroph. The recovery of PUFA was improved by encapsulation, however PUFA in the MA were not greatly affected and digestibility was improved by turnover rate. Seaweeds had no effect on CCF stability, however they reduced CH4 production without reduction in OM digestibility. The heterotroph reduced overall fermentation resulting in diminished density and volatile fatty acids and NH4+-N concentrations. Seaweed supplementation decreased NH4+-N, CO2 and CH4 production, and increased density.

During 1999 ex-situ microcosm experiments were carried out at Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory, Oban using natural assemblages of microplankton (< 200 m in size) in a series of enrichment experiments using continuous culture techniques to determine q - the yield of chlorophyll from dissolved available inorganic nitrogen (DAH\I), during and after an enrichment event. The experiments lasted between 11 and 14 days and produced a time series of q after an enrichment of either 12 M ammonium or 12 M nitrate. Allother essential nutrients, vitamins and trace metals were added in excess so that only DAIN would limit chlorophyll synthesis. Experiments were carried out during Spring, Summer and Autumn and environmental regimes in the growth room were set-up tomimic ambient conditions at the sampling site for each season. Water samples were collected every 2 days and were analysed for chlorophylls a, b and c, chlorophyll a breakdown products, carotenoids, dissolved inorganic nutrients and particulate nitrogenand carbon. Identification and enumeration of microplankton was also undertaken. During 2 of the experiments nitrogen isotope techniques were used to determine uptake rates for nitrate and ammonium. The results indicated that the microplanktonic response to an enrichment event could be divided into 3 phases: Phase I q - a rapid uptake of DAINand the synthesis of large quantities of pigments; Phase H q - DAIN became limiting and there was a decline in q caused by nutrient limitation and an increase in grazing pressure; Phase II q - after declining q remained fairly stable. Nitrogen tied-up in autotrophicbiomass was transferred to the heterotrophs as grazing pressure and algal death increased accompanied by a calculated rise in dissolved organic nitrogen through degradation processes (assuming mass conservation of nitrogen was occurring in the microcosms),and, presumably, regenerated DAIN. There were seasonal differences in q caused by changing environmental conditions such as light, temperature and background nutrient concentrations. Seasonal changes in the community structure of microplankton collected from the sampling site could also have affected the value of q. During the Summer and Autumn Experiments ammonium enriched microcosms produced lower values of q compared to nitrate enriched microcosms but further investigation is needed to clarify the reasons for this. The method used to estimate chlorophyll or nitrogen had an effect on the value of q. Refined values of q have been produced for use in the screening model used to predict potential eutrophication in the UK.

No description available.

O soro e o permeado de soro de queijo, subprodutos da indústria de laticínios, constituem-se substratos alternativos, ricos em nutrientes e de grande potencial para a produção de etanol. Diante da necessidade de melhorias em processos fermentativos, a tecnologia de imobilização celular pode contribuir positivamente para processos mais eficazes e vantajosos. Nesse contexto, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo aperfeiçoar a produção de etanol a partir de soro e permeado de soro de queijo por diferentes leveduras em biorreatores de células imobilizadas operados em regime batelada e em sistema contínuo, bem como representar matematicamente o bioprocesso. Na primeira etapa deste trabalho, diferentes linhagens de Kluyveromyces marxianus e diferentes meios de cultivo foram testados em agitador rotacional e em biorreator de células imobilizadas, e os efeitos da taxa de diluição (D) e da concentração de substrato (C WP ) foram investigadas em biorreatores contínuos. Altos fatores de conversão (YEtOH/S) e de produtividade volumétrica (QP) foram obtidos pela linhagens K. marxianus CCT 4086 tanto em agitador rotacional quanto em biorreator com células imobilizadas em alginato de cálcio operado em regime batelada (0,47 g L-1 e 2,53 g L-1 h-1). Diante disso, esta linhagem foi escolhida para os testes posteriores. Aumentos consideráveis nos parâmetros de fermentação (YEtOH/S e QP) foram obtidos a partir do planejamento experimental hexagonal em biorreatores operados continuamente (0,51 g g-1 e 6,01 g L-1 h-1). Melhorias no processo ainda foram alcançadas em biorreatores contínuos de dois estágios operados em sequência, em que alta produtividade volumétrica (6,97 g L-1 h-1) e concentração de etanol (70,4 g L-1) foram observadas. Em uma segunda etapa deste trabalho, linhagens de Saccharomyces cerevisiae foram testadas para a bioconversão de soro e permeado de soro de queijo a etanol. Diferentes leveduras imobilizadas e estratégias de cultivo foram utilizadas para bioconverter meios não concentrados e concentrados, em biorreatores de leito fluidizado. Valores similares dos parâmetros fermentativos (YEtOH/S e QP) foram obtidos para o monocultivo das linhagens de S. cerevisiae (CAT-1 e PE-2). O co-cultivo de S. cerevisiae CAT-1 e K. marxianus CCT 4086 aumentou em quatro vezes a produtividade volumétrica em permeado de soro de queijo e em 69 % em soro de queijo, mas não superou os altos valores obtidos pela monocultura de K. marxianus CCT 4086 (0,49 g g-1 e 1, 68 g L-1 h-1). Aumentos na concentração de etanol foram alcançados a partir de meio concentrado (79,1 g L-1), e melhorias na produtividade volumétrica foram obtidas a partir de batelada repetida (2,8 g L-1 h-1). Em uma terceira etapa, foi realizada a modelagem matemática do bioprocesso da produção de etanol por soro de queijo a partir de K. marxianus CCT 4086, linhagem esta que conferiu os melhores resultados ao longo deste trabalho. O sistema contínuo A-stat (accelerostat technique) foi utilizado, tanto para cultivos de células livres quanto imobilizadas, onde duas taxas de aceleração foram testadas. Quatro modelos matemáticos não estruturados foram analisados, levando em consideração a limitação pelo substrato e a inibição pelo produto. Os resultados mostraram que as taxas de diluição (D) e de aceleração (a) afetam a fisiologia e o metabolismo celular. O estado estacionário foi alcançado para a menor taxa de aceleração (a = 0,0015 h-2), e um alto fator de conversão foi obtido (0,52 g g-1) nesta condição. A imobilização celular contribuiu para o aumento do fator de conversão em 23 % na condição de maior taxa de aceleração testada (a = 0,00667 h-2). Alto ajuste dos modelos preditivos para biomassa, substrato e produto foi obtido a partir da maior taxa de aceleração, contudo o fenômeno biológico foi melhor representado para a menor taxa de aceleração. Os modelos de Monod e de Levenspiel combinado com Ghose e Tyagi foram os mais apropriados para descrever o bioprocesso. / Whey and whey permeate, by-products of the dairy industry, are alternative substrates, rich in nutrients and with great potential for use in the ethanol production. Considering the need for improvements in fermentation processes, cell immobilization technology can positively contribute to more effective and advantageous bioprocesses. In this context, the aim of this work was to optimize the ethanol production from whey and whey permeate by different yeasts on immobilized batch fluidized bed bioreactors and in continuous systems, and also describe mathematically the bioprocess. In the first step, different strains of K. marxianus and cultivation media were tested in batch mode and the effects of dilution rate (D) and substrate concentration (C WP ) were investigated in continuous bioreactors. High ethanol yield (YEtOH/S) and ethanol productivities (QP) were obtained by K. marxianus CCT 4086, for both in shaker cultivation and in batch fluidized-bed bioreactors with immobilized cells in Ca-alginate (0.47 g L-1 e 2.53 g L-1 h-1). This strain was chosen for subsequent tests. Substantial increases in the fermentation parameters (YEtOH/S e QP) were obtained from the hexagonal experimental design in continuous bioreactors (0.51 g g-1 e 6.01 g L-1 h-1). Process improvements were achieved in two continuous fluidized-bed bioreactors operated in sequence, wherein high ethanol productivities (6.97 g L-1 h-1) and concentrations (70.4 g L-1) were obtained. Then, in a second step of this study, strains of S. cerevisiae were tested to bioconversion of lactose-hydrolysed whey and whey permeate into ethanol. Different immobilized strains in monoculture and coculture were used to the bioconversion of not concentrated or concentrated mediums in batch fluidized bed bioreactors. Similar values of the fermentation parameters (YEtOH/S e QP) were obtained for the strains S. cerevisiae (CAT-1 and PE-2). The co-culture of S. cerevisiae CAT- 1 and K. marxianus CCT 4086 increased four times the ethanol productivity in lactosehydrolyzed whey permeate and 69 % in lactose-hydrolyzed whey, but not attained the high values of K. marxianus CCT 4086 monoculture (0.49 g g-1 e 1.68 g L-1 h-1). Increases in the ethanol concentrations (79.1 g L-1) were obtained from concentrated media, and improvement in ethanol productivities was obtained by repeated batch (2.8 g L-1 h-1). In a third step, the mathematical modeling of the ethanol production from whey was performed, using K. marxianus CCT 4086 as biocatalyst due to the better results attained throughout of this work. The continuous A-stat system (accelerostat technique) was used for both free cell cultures and immobilized, and two acceleration rates were tested. Four unstructured mathematical models were analyzed, taking into account the limiting substrate and product inhibition. The results showed that the dilution rate (D) and the acceleration rate (a) affected cell physiology and metabolism. The steady state was attained for the lower acceleration rate (a = 0.0015 h-2), and in this condition a high ethanol yield was verified (0.52 g g-1). Cell immobilization increased 23 % of the ethanol yield for the highest acceleration rate (a = 0.00667 h-2) tested. High fit of the predictive models of biomass, lactose and ethanol concentrations were obtained from the high acceleration rate, however the biological phenomenon was better described for the lower acceleration rate. Among the set of models evaluated, Monod and Levenspiel combined with Ghose and Tyagi models were found to be more appropriate for describing the bioprocess.

O soro e o permeado de soro de queijo, subprodutos da indústria de laticínios, constituem-se substratos alternativos, ricos em nutrientes e de grande potencial para a produção de etanol. Diante da necessidade de melhorias em processos fermentativos, a tecnologia de imobilização celular pode contribuir positivamente para processos mais eficazes e vantajosos. Nesse contexto, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo aperfeiçoar a produção de etanol a partir de soro e permeado de soro de queijo por diferentes leveduras em biorreatores de células imobilizadas operados em regime batelada e em sistema contínuo, bem como representar matematicamente o bioprocesso. Na primeira etapa deste trabalho, diferentes linhagens de Kluyveromyces marxianus e diferentes meios de cultivo foram testados em agitador rotacional e em biorreator de células imobilizadas, e os efeitos da taxa de diluição (D) e da concentração de substrato (C WP ) foram investigadas em biorreatores contínuos. Altos fatores de conversão (YEtOH/S) e de produtividade volumétrica (QP) foram obtidos pela linhagens K. marxianus CCT 4086 tanto em agitador rotacional quanto em biorreator com células imobilizadas em alginato de cálcio operado em regime batelada (0,47 g L-1 e 2,53 g L-1 h-1). Diante disso, esta linhagem foi escolhida para os testes posteriores. Aumentos consideráveis nos parâmetros de fermentação (YEtOH/S e QP) foram obtidos a partir do planejamento experimental hexagonal em biorreatores operados continuamente (0,51 g g-1 e 6,01 g L-1 h-1). Melhorias no processo ainda foram alcançadas em biorreatores contínuos de dois estágios operados em sequência, em que alta produtividade volumétrica (6,97 g L-1 h-1) e concentração de etanol (70,4 g L-1) foram observadas. Em uma segunda etapa deste trabalho, linhagens de Saccharomyces cerevisiae foram testadas para a bioconversão de soro e permeado de soro de queijo a etanol. Diferentes leveduras imobilizadas e estratégias de cultivo foram utilizadas para bioconverter meios não concentrados e concentrados, em biorreatores de leito fluidizado. Valores similares dos parâmetros fermentativos (YEtOH/S e QP) foram obtidos para o monocultivo das linhagens de S. cerevisiae (CAT-1 e PE-2). O co-cultivo de S. cerevisiae CAT-1 e K. marxianus CCT 4086 aumentou em quatro vezes a produtividade volumétrica em permeado de soro de queijo e em 69 % em soro de queijo, mas não superou os altos valores obtidos pela monocultura de K. marxianus CCT 4086 (0,49 g g-1 e 1, 68 g L-1 h-1). Aumentos na concentração de etanol foram alcançados a partir de meio concentrado (79,1 g L-1), e melhorias na produtividade volumétrica foram obtidas a partir de batelada repetida (2,8 g L-1 h-1). Em uma terceira etapa, foi realizada a modelagem matemática do bioprocesso da produção de etanol por soro de queijo a partir de K. marxianus CCT 4086, linhagem esta que conferiu os melhores resultados ao longo deste trabalho. O sistema contínuo A-stat (accelerostat technique) foi utilizado, tanto para cultivos de células livres quanto imobilizadas, onde duas taxas de aceleração foram testadas. Quatro modelos matemáticos não estruturados foram analisados, levando em consideração a limitação pelo substrato e a inibição pelo produto. Os resultados mostraram que as taxas de diluição (D) e de aceleração (a) afetam a fisiologia e o metabolismo celular. O estado estacionário foi alcançado para a menor taxa de aceleração (a = 0,0015 h-2), e um alto fator de conversão foi obtido (0,52 g g-1) nesta condição. A imobilização celular contribuiu para o aumento do fator de conversão em 23 % na condição de maior taxa de aceleração testada (a = 0,00667 h-2). Alto ajuste dos modelos preditivos para biomassa, substrato e produto foi obtido a partir da maior taxa de aceleração, contudo o fenômeno biológico foi melhor representado para a menor taxa de aceleração. Os modelos de Monod e de Levenspiel combinado com Ghose e Tyagi foram os mais apropriados para descrever o bioprocesso. / Whey and whey permeate, by-products of the dairy industry, are alternative substrates, rich in nutrients and with great potential for use in the ethanol production. Considering the need for improvements in fermentation processes, cell immobilization technology can positively contribute to more effective and advantageous bioprocesses. In this context, the aim of this work was to optimize the ethanol production from whey and whey permeate by different yeasts on immobilized batch fluidized bed bioreactors and in continuous systems, and also describe mathematically the bioprocess. In the first step, different strains of K. marxianus and cultivation media were tested in batch mode and the effects of dilution rate (D) and substrate concentration (C WP ) were investigated in continuous bioreactors. High ethanol yield (YEtOH/S) and ethanol productivities (QP) were obtained by K. marxianus CCT 4086, for both in shaker cultivation and in batch fluidized-bed bioreactors with immobilized cells in Ca-alginate (0.47 g L-1 e 2.53 g L-1 h-1). This strain was chosen for subsequent tests. Substantial increases in the fermentation parameters (YEtOH/S e QP) were obtained from the hexagonal experimental design in continuous bioreactors (0.51 g g-1 e 6.01 g L-1 h-1). Process improvements were achieved in two continuous fluidized-bed bioreactors operated in sequence, wherein high ethanol productivities (6.97 g L-1 h-1) and concentrations (70.4 g L-1) were obtained. Then, in a second step of this study, strains of S. cerevisiae were tested to bioconversion of lactose-hydrolysed whey and whey permeate into ethanol. Different immobilized strains in monoculture and coculture were used to the bioconversion of not concentrated or concentrated mediums in batch fluidized bed bioreactors. Similar values of the fermentation parameters (YEtOH/S e QP) were obtained for the strains S. cerevisiae (CAT-1 and PE-2). The co-culture of S. cerevisiae CAT- 1 and K. marxianus CCT 4086 increased four times the ethanol productivity in lactosehydrolyzed whey permeate and 69 % in lactose-hydrolyzed whey, but not attained the high values of K. marxianus CCT 4086 monoculture (0.49 g g-1 e 1.68 g L-1 h-1). Increases in the ethanol concentrations (79.1 g L-1) were obtained from concentrated media, and improvement in ethanol productivities was obtained by repeated batch (2.8 g L-1 h-1). In a third step, the mathematical modeling of the ethanol production from whey was performed, using K. marxianus CCT 4086 as biocatalyst due to the better results attained throughout of this work. The continuous A-stat system (accelerostat technique) was used for both free cell cultures and immobilized, and two acceleration rates were tested. Four unstructured mathematical models were analyzed, taking into account the limiting substrate and product inhibition. The results showed that the dilution rate (D) and the acceleration rate (a) affected cell physiology and metabolism. The steady state was attained for the lower acceleration rate (a = 0.0015 h-2), and in this condition a high ethanol yield was verified (0.52 g g-1). Cell immobilization increased 23 % of the ethanol yield for the highest acceleration rate (a = 0.00667 h-2) tested. High fit of the predictive models of biomass, lactose and ethanol concentrations were obtained from the high acceleration rate, however the biological phenomenon was better described for the lower acceleration rate. Among the set of models evaluated, Monod and Levenspiel combined with Ghose and Tyagi models were found to be more appropriate for describing the bioprocess.

O soro e o permeado de soro de queijo, subprodutos da indústria de laticínios, constituem-se substratos alternativos, ricos em nutrientes e de grande potencial para a produção de etanol. Diante da necessidade de melhorias em processos fermentativos, a tecnologia de imobilização celular pode contribuir positivamente para processos mais eficazes e vantajosos. Nesse contexto, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo aperfeiçoar a produção de etanol a partir de soro e permeado de soro de queijo por diferentes leveduras em biorreatores de células imobilizadas operados em regime batelada e em sistema contínuo, bem como representar matematicamente o bioprocesso. Na primeira etapa deste trabalho, diferentes linhagens de Kluyveromyces marxianus e diferentes meios de cultivo foram testados em agitador rotacional e em biorreator de células imobilizadas, e os efeitos da taxa de diluição (D) e da concentração de substrato (C WP ) foram investigadas em biorreatores contínuos. Altos fatores de conversão (YEtOH/S) e de produtividade volumétrica (QP) foram obtidos pela linhagens K. marxianus CCT 4086 tanto em agitador rotacional quanto em biorreator com células imobilizadas em alginato de cálcio operado em regime batelada (0,47 g L-1 e 2,53 g L-1 h-1). Diante disso, esta linhagem foi escolhida para os testes posteriores. Aumentos consideráveis nos parâmetros de fermentação (YEtOH/S e QP) foram obtidos a partir do planejamento experimental hexagonal em biorreatores operados continuamente (0,51 g g-1 e 6,01 g L-1 h-1). Melhorias no processo ainda foram alcançadas em biorreatores contínuos de dois estágios operados em sequência, em que alta produtividade volumétrica (6,97 g L-1 h-1) e concentração de etanol (70,4 g L-1) foram observadas. Em uma segunda etapa deste trabalho, linhagens de Saccharomyces cerevisiae foram testadas para a bioconversão de soro e permeado de soro de queijo a etanol. Diferentes leveduras imobilizadas e estratégias de cultivo foram utilizadas para bioconverter meios não concentrados e concentrados, em biorreatores de leito fluidizado. Valores similares dos parâmetros fermentativos (YEtOH/S e QP) foram obtidos para o monocultivo das linhagens de S. cerevisiae (CAT-1 e PE-2). O co-cultivo de S. cerevisiae CAT-1 e K. marxianus CCT 4086 aumentou em quatro vezes a produtividade volumétrica em permeado de soro de queijo e em 69 % em soro de queijo, mas não superou os altos valores obtidos pela monocultura de K. marxianus CCT 4086 (0,49 g g-1 e 1, 68 g L-1 h-1). Aumentos na concentração de etanol foram alcançados a partir de meio concentrado (79,1 g L-1), e melhorias na produtividade volumétrica foram obtidas a partir de batelada repetida (2,8 g L-1 h-1). Em uma terceira etapa, foi realizada a modelagem matemática do bioprocesso da produção de etanol por soro de queijo a partir de K. marxianus CCT 4086, linhagem esta que conferiu os melhores resultados ao longo deste trabalho. O sistema contínuo A-stat (accelerostat technique) foi utilizado, tanto para cultivos de células livres quanto imobilizadas, onde duas taxas de aceleração foram testadas. Quatro modelos matemáticos não estruturados foram analisados, levando em consideração a limitação pelo substrato e a inibição pelo produto. Os resultados mostraram que as taxas de diluição (D) e de aceleração (a) afetam a fisiologia e o metabolismo celular. O estado estacionário foi alcançado para a menor taxa de aceleração (a = 0,0015 h-2), e um alto fator de conversão foi obtido (0,52 g g-1) nesta condição. A imobilização celular contribuiu para o aumento do fator de conversão em 23 % na condição de maior taxa de aceleração testada (a = 0,00667 h-2). Alto ajuste dos modelos preditivos para biomassa, substrato e produto foi obtido a partir da maior taxa de aceleração, contudo o fenômeno biológico foi melhor representado para a menor taxa de aceleração. Os modelos de Monod e de Levenspiel combinado com Ghose e Tyagi foram os mais apropriados para descrever o bioprocesso. / Whey and whey permeate, by-products of the dairy industry, are alternative substrates, rich in nutrients and with great potential for use in the ethanol production. Considering the need for improvements in fermentation processes, cell immobilization technology can positively contribute to more effective and advantageous bioprocesses. In this context, the aim of this work was to optimize the ethanol production from whey and whey permeate by different yeasts on immobilized batch fluidized bed bioreactors and in continuous systems, and also describe mathematically the bioprocess. In the first step, different strains of K. marxianus and cultivation media were tested in batch mode and the effects of dilution rate (D) and substrate concentration (C WP ) were investigated in continuous bioreactors. High ethanol yield (YEtOH/S) and ethanol productivities (QP) were obtained by K. marxianus CCT 4086, for both in shaker cultivation and in batch fluidized-bed bioreactors with immobilized cells in Ca-alginate (0.47 g L-1 e 2.53 g L-1 h-1). This strain was chosen for subsequent tests. Substantial increases in the fermentation parameters (YEtOH/S e QP) were obtained from the hexagonal experimental design in continuous bioreactors (0.51 g g-1 e 6.01 g L-1 h-1). Process improvements were achieved in two continuous fluidized-bed bioreactors operated in sequence, wherein high ethanol productivities (6.97 g L-1 h-1) and concentrations (70.4 g L-1) were obtained. Then, in a second step of this study, strains of S. cerevisiae were tested to bioconversion of lactose-hydrolysed whey and whey permeate into ethanol. Different immobilized strains in monoculture and coculture were used to the bioconversion of not concentrated or concentrated mediums in batch fluidized bed bioreactors. Similar values of the fermentation parameters (YEtOH/S e QP) were obtained for the strains S. cerevisiae (CAT-1 and PE-2). The co-culture of S. cerevisiae CAT- 1 and K. marxianus CCT 4086 increased four times the ethanol productivity in lactosehydrolyzed whey permeate and 69 % in lactose-hydrolyzed whey, but not attained the high values of K. marxianus CCT 4086 monoculture (0.49 g g-1 e 1.68 g L-1 h-1). Increases in the ethanol concentrations (79.1 g L-1) were obtained from concentrated media, and improvement in ethanol productivities was obtained by repeated batch (2.8 g L-1 h-1). In a third step, the mathematical modeling of the ethanol production from whey was performed, using K. marxianus CCT 4086 as biocatalyst due to the better results attained throughout of this work. The continuous A-stat system (accelerostat technique) was used for both free cell cultures and immobilized, and two acceleration rates were tested. Four unstructured mathematical models were analyzed, taking into account the limiting substrate and product inhibition. The results showed that the dilution rate (D) and the acceleration rate (a) affected cell physiology and metabolism. The steady state was attained for the lower acceleration rate (a = 0.0015 h-2), and in this condition a high ethanol yield was verified (0.52 g g-1). Cell immobilization increased 23 % of the ethanol yield for the highest acceleration rate (a = 0.00667 h-2) tested. High fit of the predictive models of biomass, lactose and ethanol concentrations were obtained from the high acceleration rate, however the biological phenomenon was better described for the lower acceleration rate. Among the set of models evaluated, Monod and Levenspiel combined with Ghose and Tyagi models were found to be more appropriate for describing the bioprocess.

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