FERMENTATION PROCESS AND ETHANOL PRODUCTION: MATHEMATICAL MODEL USING GLUCOSE FROM MICROALGAE BIOMASS

Third-generation biofuels have great potential but need further research to achieve pilot and industrial scales, therefore, the processes optimization can be realized through predictive models. Thus, the present work denoted parameters for a data set using a mathematical model based on the Monod equation. The MATLAB® software was used for computer simulation and the parameters were adjusted to obtain values of μmax = 0.3620 (h-1), Ks = 0.0001 (g.L-1), Kp = 0.8528 ( g.L-1), YS/X = 4.0269 (g-1) and YP/X = 1.9427 (g-1), consistent with those reported in the literature. The final value of the objective function was 0.2056, demonstratinga low error in model fit to the experimental data. From the results, it is observed that the theoretical curve follows the trend of the experimental data and, wherefore, the parameters are suitable for this model, being efficient and can predict the ethanol contents in the fermentation process.