Heat of Fermentation Calculator

Formula

The formula to calculate the Heat of Fermentation (H_f) is:

\[ H_f = (M_s \times H_{cs}) - (M_b \times H_{cb}) \]

Where:

\(H_f\) is the heat of fermentation
\(M_s\) is the mass of substrate
\(H_{cs}\) is the heat of combustion of substrate
\(M_b\) is the mass of biomass
\(H_{cb}\) is the heat of combustion of biomass

What is Heat of Fermentation?

The heat of fermentation is the amount of heat released or absorbed during the fermentation process. Fermentation is a metabolic process that converts sugar to acids, gases, or alcohol in the absence of oxygen. This process is used in various applications, including the production of alcoholic beverages, bread, and biofuels. The heat of fermentation is an important parameter in the design and operation of bioreactors, as it affects the temperature and energy balance of the system.

Example Calculation

Let's assume the following values:

Mass of Substrate (M_s) = 100 kg
Heat of Combustion of Substrate (H_{cs}) = 500 kJ/kg
Mass of Biomass (M_b) = 20 kg
Heat of Combustion of Biomass (H_{cb}) = 300 kJ/kg

Using the formula to calculate the Heat of Fermentation (H_f):

\[ H_f = (M_s \times H_{cs}) - (M_b \times H_{cb}) = (100 \times 500) - (20 \times 300) = 50000 - 6000 = 44000 \text{ kJ} \]

The Heat of Fermentation (H_f) is 44000 kJ.