Evaluación del proceso de producción de ácido cítrico por fermentación con el uso de Aspergillus niger.

Abstract

The production process of citric acid is evaluated through fermentation by using Aspergillus niger microorganism for Hetween Cía. Ltd company; This procedure was carried out through four simulation models with the use of a software for processes, the design parameters were provided by the company, which were entered into the calculation platform, subsequently the results obtained in each model were analyzed technically and economically, which allowed to determine the most optimal model of citric acid production (model two), which determines an amount of citric acid production of 6 914. 69 tons per year, a total investment of $ 31 460 000 together with a NPV (Net Present Value) of $165 000 and an IRR (Internal Rate of Return) of 8.05%, which indicates that the project can be conducted and it is profitable in an 8-year compensation period. To the selected model, a descriptive statistical analysis was carried out, applying a t- student; This confirms the acceptance of the null hypothesis which means that model two is the most viable, showing a great relationship between the production average (19.72 tons / lot) and the final production of the model (21.08 tons / lot)., with a 95% reliability. The process consists of two stages: fermentation and isolation, which must be carried out under the operating conditions (T= 25ºC and P= 1 atmosphere in most of the operations) and the optimal fermentation conditions for the Aspergillus niger (T=35ºC, pH= 5.8 and P= 1 atmosphere) that are adequate to obtain a quality product that can be offered in the national and international markets. Finally, it is verified that the use of computer software allows to develop technical studies without the need to resort to long working hours with experimental laboratory analysis, that is, it saves us: time, pre-design costs and trial errors.