Biomass isolation from a dispersed system: gas oil--water--yeasts

During the fermentation of n-alkanes in petroleum fractions, a dispersion is formed: deparaffined hydrocarbon phase-water phase (nutrients)- biomass-air. This study suggests a new way of separation of individual fractions by evaporating the water phase from the dispersion under reduced pressure on a rotating film evaporator with a mechanically formed film. Data on the dispersion behavior during the evaporating process, and the influence of individual parameters on the process of evaporation, are discussed.