Bioprocess Engineering 2nd Edition by Fikret Kargi,Michael Shuler

Exercise 2

Yeast cells are recovered from a fermentation broth by using a tubular centrifuge. Sixty per-
cent (60%) of the cells are recovered at a flow rate of 12 l/min with a rotational speed of 4000
rpm. Recovery is inversely proportional to flow rate.
a. To increase the recovery of cells to 95% at the same flow rate, what should be the rpm of
the centrifuge?
b. At a constant rpm of 4000 rpm, what should be the flow rate to result in 95% cell
recovery?