Comparative Study on Foam Controlling Efficiency of Defoamer Coated PUF Device and Automatic Foam Controlling Method in Fermentation Process

A defoamer coated PUF device was prepared and arranged within fermentor vessel in fixed and rotational positions at a particular height not touching the synthetic broth in the vessel. Foam was generated at constant rate continuously by air sparging, stirring in the vessel and observed for foam controlling efficiency of the device in terms of foam collapse rate and total hours of foam controlling achieved. The foam controlling efficiency of the present defoamer coated PUF device was compared with the automatic foam controlling method with the similar test parameters and conditions. It was observed that the foam collapse rates of both the methods are similar but varying in terms of foam controlling hours. There is definite foam controlling for about 23 hours and 20 minutes achieved by the fixed type defoamer coated PUF device, 28 hours achieved by the rotational type defoamer coated PUF device. The automated method has achieved defoaming for about 33 hours and 40 minutes. Based on the observations of the present study, defoamer coated PUF device can be used as a distribution device of defoamer as its foam controlling efficiency in terms of foam collapse rate is similar when compared with the automatic foam controlling method.