17 Crucial Difference Between Bioreactor and Fermenter with Similarities

What is the difference between bioreactor and fermenter?

Bioreactor and fermenter are a closed system that is used for a particular type of biochemical reaction. These systems happen in plants, animals, and industrial applications.

The main difference between bioreactor and fermenter is that the former refers to a close system that facilitates various types of biochemical reactions while the latter refers to a vessel that facilitates fermentation.

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Difference Between Bioreactor and Fermenter

Comparison Table (Bioreactor vs Fermenter)

Basic Terms	Bioreactor	Fermenter
Meaning	It is an apparatus where the biological reaction is carried out on an industrial scale	It is a container where the fermentation process takes place
Type of Reaction	Allow any type of biological reaction to take place	Only facilitate the fermentation process
Products Obtained	Metabolites like amino acids, peptides, and drugs	Alcohol and acids only
Organisms Involved	Plant cells, animal cells, and unicellular microbes	Fermentative microbes
Aerobic or Anaerobic	Function under both anaerobic and aerobic conditions	Function only under anaerobic condition
Types of Designs	Bioreactors have packed beds, fluidized bed, and airlift bioreactors	Batch and continuous or fed-batch
Viral Infection	Infected by viruses	Not infected by viruses
Types of Metabolites	Vaccines, amino acids, antibodies, medicines, and pharmaceutical liquids	Lactic acid and ethanol
Purpose	Produce cell mass or particular metabolites	Produce metabolite
Double Timing	Tend to belong	Take about 20 minutes
Agitation RPM	Need to be maintained due to cells without a cell wall	No need for maintaining since bacteria and fungi have cell walls
Volume	Numerous liters	About two liters
Height of the Vessel	Short vessels due to mammalian cell culture to improve mixing	Taller vessels due to bacterial culture to improve oxygen mass transfer
Origin of Microorganisms	Microorganisms have introduced to the apparatus	Microorganisms in the air are used in the fermenter
Correspondence	A vessel that facilitates the biological reaction	It is a type of bioreactor
Type of Substrate	Various types of bioreactor	Glucose compounds
Microorganisms	Either microorganism or biochemically active	Uses microorganism only

What Is a Bioreactor?

It is an advanced version of fermentation technology that involves the production of substances on an industrial scale. The process entails the use of biochemically active substances like enzymes.

The process is usually carried by plant and animal cells. It also helps to facilitate the cultivation of secondary metabolites such as vaccines, antibodies, and pharmaceutical products.

Bioreactors are classified as Airlift bioreactors, fluidized bioreactors, packed-bed, photobioreactors, bubble column bioreactors, and continuous bioreactors.

The primary aim of the bioreactor is to subject all parts of the system under the same conditions. It is the reason behind further classification into the biofilm and the process of cell cultures.

The most essential role of a bioreactor is to promote various types of biochemical reactions and double-timing the entire process.

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What Is a Fermenter?

It is a biological process that takes place in absence of oxygen. It is also known as fermentation or anaerobic respiration.

Production of lactic acid and ethanol in fermentation is enhanced by bacteria and fungi. The fermenter provides optimal temperature and nutrients for these microorganisms.

The fermenter is classified as batch and fed-batch or continuous culture. These types of fermenters can be performed as submerge fermentation and surface fermentation.

Submerged fermentation is where the process of microorganism occurs in a liquid medium while surface fermentation is a solid medium.

Timing for fermenter is about 20 minutes and it supports the cultivation of bacteria and fungi. But the apparatus only support fermentation only.

Main Differences between Bioreactor and Fermenter

The bioreactor is an apparatus that allows the biological process to be carried out on a large scale while the fermenter is a container that facilitates fermentation only
Bioreactor facilitate the biochemical process while fermenter is a type of bioreactor
Bioreactor uses mammalian or insect cells while fermenter uses fungal and bacterial cells
Bioreactor uses either anaerobic or aerobic conditions whereas fermenter uses anaerobic conditions.
Bioreactor double-timing is long whereas fermenter is about 20 minutes
Bioreactor produce secondary metabolites while fermenter produce a primary metabolite
The bioreactor is used in the production of medicine and vaccines while the fermenter is used in the production of ethanol or lactic acid
The bioreactor can be infected by viruses whereas the fermenter cannot be infected by viruses

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Similarities between Bioreactor and Fermenter

Both are a closed system
Both operate on a large scale
Both are cylindrical vessels made from stainless steel
Both provide agitation, sterility, aeration, and regulation of factors
Both are the type of apparatus meant for specific chemical reaction

Comparison Video

In Conclusion

We hope the difference between fermenter and bioreactor discussed in the article is useful. The bioreactor is a device that facilitate various types of biochemical processes whereas a fermenter is an apparatus that enhance fermentation.

Scientists use bioreactors for the production of pharmaceutical products and vaccines while fermenters for the production of lactic acid and ethanol. The type of biochemical reaction helps to distinguish between bioreactor and fermenter.

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