5.8 fermentor

fermentor = vessel where fermentation occurs (made out of copper, steel)

to maintain optimum temperature:
• there is water between the two metal jackets as a 'cooling jacket' since fermentation heats up the fermentor. this cooling jacket will keep the fermentor at an optimum temperature
• steam, which sterilises the fermentor in between fermentations
• there is a heater inside the heater to raise temperature

we also need
• for fermentation to occur, nutrients must be placed inside the fermenter as food for microorganisms
• a probe to measure temperature. informs whether to turn on heater or cooling jacket
• a ph probe to keep ph at the optimum rate
• microorganisms
• turning device to agitate mixture, spreading microorganism
• method of draining product = it will then go into a process called downstream processing which will also purify the product

the idea of the fermentor is the keep the reaction at it's optimum level the whole time, so it will be able to produce the product more efficiently