Potential uses of oscillatory baffled reactors for biofuel production

Abstract

The oscillatory baffled reactor (OBR) is a unique design of plug flow reactor consisting of a tube or column fitted with a series of baffle plates. The key feature of OBRs is the combination of a periodic geometry (usually sharp-edged baffles) and a periodically reversing flow in a tube or column. The OBR design may be suitable for production of various liquid biofuel, as the reactor‘s niche application is the performance of long residence time processes continuously in plug flow. A further advantage for biobutanol and bioethanol production could be that OBRs provide relatively low-shear uniform mixing, thereby achieving homogenous conditions in fermentation, without causing cell damage. Biodiesel production benefits from significantly reduced residence time (compared with batch production) and lower length-to-diameter ratio than equivalent conventional plug flow reactors, for example, the reactor is much more compact. This article reviews the possibility of the use of OBRs in three types of liquid biofuel productions.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.