Maximal exponential growth rate and yield of E. coli obtainable in a bench-scale fermentor

Oxygen supply is one of the main factors which influences aerobic cell growth in a fermentor. Maximal rates at which E. coli can grow on glucose as carbon source under various limiting oxygen-supply conditions were determined in a bench-scale fermentor. Culture conditions are described which gave yields of about 38 g dry cells per liter medium.     

A continuous,multistage tower fermentor. I. Design and performance tests

The design of a continuous column fermentor with a multiple staging effect is described. The column is divided into four compartments by horizontal perforated plates and is provided with a central agitator shaft driving an impeller in each compartment. A tube at the center of each plate forms a liquid seal around the shaft and also acts as a “downcomer.” The fermentor is normally operated with counter-current flow of gas and medium. Fresh medium is added to the top stage and product is withdrawn from the bottom. The effect of plate and agitator design on fermentor performance was studied in terms of factor such as oxygen transfer rate, gas holdup, and interstage mixing. By proper choice of the design parameters, the fermentor was made to approximate a perfect four-stage cascade in terms of reactor performance. Preliminary experiments were performed with air-water systems, but a more realistic picture of fermentor performance was obtained in experience involving propagation of Escherichia coli. Data for business and substrate concentrations in each stage confirmed the staging effect of the apparatus. The fermentor operated in a stable manner for periods of more than two weeks.     

Studies on the production of bacterial rennet in a pilot plant fermentor

An attempt was made to find out the optimum aeration and agitation rates on the production of bacterial rennet from Bacillus sublilis K-26 using 5% wheat bran medium in a 13 liter fermentor. The enzyme activity and the growth rate were shown to increase with an increase in the rate of agitation. The fermentation experiments carried out at an agitation rate of 400 rpm showed an approximate threefold increase in enzyme activity with a considerable decrease in the fermentation time over those agitated at 200 and 300 rpm. The beneficial effect of a higher oxygen rate was observed for enzyme production occurring at a lower agitation rate. The inoculum activity and the varying amounts of antifoam agent which were added showed no apparent effect either on the total incubation time or on the final enzyme activity. It has been suggested that an agitation rate of 400 rpm with an aeration level of 3000 cc/min are the optimum values for the efficient production of bacterial rennet from B. subtilis K-26 using 5% wheat bran medium in a 13 liter fermentor.     

The rotorfermentor. II. Application to ethanol fermentation.

The kinetics of microbial growth and product formation are described as applied to the high cell concentration scheme of the rotorfermentor. A bench scale pilot plant was designed and built in order to demonstrate the operational feasibility of the rotorfermentor. The fermentation of glucose to ethanol by Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATCC 4126 was used. When the rotorfermentor was used with a glucose feed concentration of 104 g/liter almost 100% glucose utilization was obtained and the ethanol productivity rate was 27.3 g ethanol/liter hr which was found to be about 10 times greater than the ethanol productivity obtained from an ordinary continuous stirred tank (CST) fermentor. The ethanol experimental results obtained from the rotorfermentor and an ordinary CST fermentor were used as a basis to assess the economic feasibility of the rotorfermentor. The economics of an industrial scale ordinary CST fermentor with and without cell recycle is compared with a rotorfermentor unit for the same ethanol production throughput. For the process conditions considered in this case, calculations showed that the rotorfermentor may replace both a CST fermentor and cell centrifuge resulting in lower capital equipment costs and lower power consumption requirements.     

Effect of inoculum size on the aeration pattern of batch cultures of a fungal microorganism

Trichoderma reesei QM 9123 has been grown in batch culture in a 10 liter stirred fermentor, at a temperature of 30°C and pH 4.0. The fermentor was operated at a single stirrer speed of 400 rpm and air rate of 1 v/v/m. The effect of four inoculum sizes (0.5, 1.0, 3.0 and 5.0%) on the growth pattern and the aeration profiles was examined. Logarithmic growth of the fungus was observed. The aeration profile changed with inoculum size and at 5.0%, it was found that the oxygen uptake rate was controlled by the oxygen supply rate, during which the oxygen tension was zero.     

Design of a fast flow reactor for aerobic treatment of dilute waste streams

The design of a 125 liter aerated recirculating tower fermentor is presented. The tower has an external recirculation loop and a broth take-off point designed to give selective retention of biomass in the fermentor. This allows operation with high throughput rates using a low conentration feed. The aspect ratio in the main tower is approximately 14:1, but good mixing is promoted by the rapid recirculation of the broth. The construction of the fermentor and costs are given in details, illustrating that the fermentor may offer a cheap alternative to conventional systems.     

短杆菌变异株FMP92814产苯丙氨酸的研究

经过多次的人工诱变筛选,获得一株来自乳糖发酵短杆菌ＡＴＣＣ１３８６９的变异株ＦＭＰ９２８１４。它对多种苯丙氨酸结构类似物具有抗性,并兼有酪氨酸营养缺陷型特性。我们对ＦＭＰ９２８１４菌株的发酵生产苯丙氨酸条件进行了研究。在５Ｌ台式小罐的发酵试验中,该菌株的苯丙氨酸产量可达２５．２ｇ／Ｌ,糖酸转化率１６．８％．。     

Experimental evaluation of liquid film resistance in oxygen transport to microbial cells

A membrane probe was used to monitor the dissolved oxygen concentrations in continuous cultures of Candida utilis and Micrococcus roseus growing at low dissolved oxygen concentrations and various agitation levels. For the yeast fermentations, increasing the agitation level within the range of 0.1 to 0.3 w per liter lowered steady-state dissolved oxygen concentrations in the fermentor. The steady-state dissolved oxygen concentration in the fermentor was not influenced by the agitation level within the range of 0.3 to 1.8 w per liter. With M. roseus, no effect of agitation on steady-state dissolved oxygen concentrations in the fermentor was observed within the range of 0.1 to 1.8 w per liter. It was concluded that, under the conditions used, a measurable transfer barrier from the liquid to the yeast cells existed at agitation levels below 0.3 w per liter and that this barrier did not exist at agitation levels above 0.3 w per liter. The transfer barrier from the liquid to the yeast surface could be represented by a stagnant film of liquid 0.6 × 10^-4 cm thick surrounding the cell at an agitation level of 0.10 w per liter. This film represented an oxygen concentration drop of 1.3 × 10^-7 M from the bulk of the medium to the cells under the experimental conditions.     

Gene cloning, nucleotide sequence, and expression of a cephalosporin-C deacetylase from Bacillus subtilis.

The gene encoding a cephalosporin-C deacetylase (CAH) from Bacillus subtilis SHS 0133 was cloned and sequenced. The nucleotide sequence contained an open reading frame encoding a polypeptide consisting of 318 amino acids, the molecular weight of which was in good agreement with the value obtained by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The deduced amino acid sequence contained the common sequence Gly-X-Ser-X-Gly found in many esterases, lipases, and serine proteases. This indicates that CAH is a serine enzyme. A possible promoter sequence which is very similar to the consensus sequences of -35 and -10 regions recognized by B. subtilis RNA polymerase utilizing sigma factor H was found in the 5'-flanking region of the CAH structural gene. Two repeated A+T-rich blocks consisting of 24 bp were also found in the upstream region of the initiation codon. We constructed a series of expression plasmids by inserting the CAH gene into Escherichia coli ATG vectors. The degree of CAH gene expression depended on promoters and vector plasmids, which have different replication origins. The expressed CAH protein was an active form in the soluble fraction obtained after cell disruption. The highest expression level was accomplished with an expression plasmid, pCAH400, which has the trp promoter and the replication origin derived from pAT153. In the fermentation using a 30-liter jar fermentor, the transformant E. coli JM103(pCAH400) produced 440 U of CAH per ml of culture during a 24-h incubation. This value corresponded to 2.1 g of CAH protein in 1 liter of culture broth.     

Ethanol production by Zymomonas mobilis CP4 from sugar cane chips

Summary The fermentation of large sugar cane chips (1.0–1.5 in) to ethanol by Zymomonas mobilis CP4 (Z. mobilis) was studied in two glass fermentors operating with culture circulation for agitation (the EX-FERM type): a. A laboratory scale(2.5 liter) cylindrical vessel; b. A bench scale (8 liter) wide vessel. Z. mobilis cultures consumed 89–96% of the cane sucrose, converting it to ethanol by 90–97% of the theoretical yield in the laboratory scale fermentor and by 83–90% in the bench scale fermentor culture. Comparative Saccharomyces spp. cultures in laboratory fermentor consumed 96–98% of the cane sucrose, with ethanol conversion of only 75–79% of the theoretical yield.These preliminary results indicated that sucrose in agricultural size sugar cane chips was ethanol fermentable as compared to small size sugar cane chips or to sugar cane juice. Z. mobilis CP4 cultures converted sucrose more efficiently to ethanol than Saccharomyces spp. as shown in the laboratory scale fermentor studies.The ethanol yields in a wide bench scale fermentor cultures were slightly lower than in a laboratory fermentor.     

High density cultivation of plant cells in a new aeration-agitation type fermentor,maxblend fermentor®

The applicability of a new aeration-agitation type fermentor with a grid-paddle type impeller and a spiral-sparger, Maxblend Fermentor® (MBF) for high density cultivation of plant cells, was investigated. The MBF showed a high capacity for oxygen supply and extremely low hydrodynamic stress in aeration and mixing compared with a conventional fermentor (CF). When Oryza sativa cells were cultivated at a k_La of 20 h⁻¹, a high cell density cultivation of about 30 g dry cell weight per liter was accomplished in both fermentors and there were few differences in culture performance between the two. On the contrary, considerable differences were observed when Catharanthus roseus cells, which seemed to be sensitive to physical stress, were cultivated at a k_La of 20 h⁻¹ in both fermentors. The MBF exhibited excellent cell growth characteristics, achieving about 19 g dry cell weight per liter, because of its superior oxygen supply and low hydrodynamic stress in aeration and mixing in highly viscous cultures containing high density cells. In CF only about 9.5 g dry cell weight per liter was achieved because of its high hydrodynamic stress.     

Production of plasmid DNA in a simple, inexpensive and reusable fermentor

Performance data for the production of plasmid DNA in bacterial cultures have been obtained using a new concept of simplified fermentor, the Lofstrand Bactolift. The unique design of this fermentor incorporates a standard 500-ml or 1-liter centrifuge bottle as the bacterial growth vessel, thus eliminating the necessity to transfer the cultures for subsequent processing. Bacterial and plasmid yields have been shown to be equal to or greater than those obtained using conventional shake flasks. Twelve 1-liter Bactolift fermentors can be operated in a standard laboratory water bath that occupies less than two square feet of bench space, as compared to a limit of six 2.8-liter Fernbach flasks containing one liter of culture held in an incubator shaker cabinet that occupies nine square feet of laboratory floor space.     

A large, efficient and inexpensive bacterial growth chamber

The construction of a 200 liter bacterial growth chamber for a total cost of less than $400 is described. The chamber was designed for growth of aerobic organisms and therefore provides high rates of aeration and mixing. The growth of Escherichia coli K₁₂ in the chamber was similar to growth in small flasks on a rotary shaker. Azotobacter vinelandii OP growth is slower in the growth chamber than in small, shaken flasks. Under the growth conditions described, kilogram quantities of bacterial cells are obtained from a single culture.     

Growth of E. Coli W to high cell concentration by oxygen level linked control of carbon source concentration

The growth of E. coli W in a bench scale fermentor to high cell concentration is described. The method involves growth-linked introduction of ammonia to the culture, sparging the culture with oxygen, and maintenance of aerobic conditions during the final growth phase by gradually and automatically decreasing the concentration of the carbon source, sucrose, in the culture. Thus, the oxygen demand is kept within the limits of the supply capacity, and a linear growth rate during the final phase of growth is obtained. A concentration of 42 g dry cell per liter was obtained. The yield constants for nitrogen and phosphorous were determined and were compared with those obtained using the temperature variation method.     

一株产虾青素的黄杆菌CF—60的研究

从土壤中分离到一株黄杆菌（Ｆｌａｖｏｂａｃｔｅｒｉｕｍｓｐｐ）Ｃ(Ｆ－６０),该菌的生长需Ｍｇ２＋存在,ＭｇＳＯ４·７Ｈ２Ｏ的最适浓度为０．２％;蛋白胨是该菌株生长的最好氮源,它不能利用无机氮。种龄超过９６ｈ的菌体不能在新鲜培养基中生长。经５４ｈ的２Ｌ恒化器发酵,生物量达６．８ｇ／Ｌ,色素产量为１０．６ｍｇ／Ｌ。该菌产生的类胡萝卜素成分简单,主要成分的含量为９０．３％,该成分经初步鉴定是分子结构中含有羰基和羟基的虾青素。     

High-yield growth of E. coli at different temperatures in a bench scale fermentor

E. coli wax grown exponentially at different temperatures in a bench scale fermentor. pH was maintained at 6.8 by ammonia which served also as the nitrogen source. Glucose was introduced semi-continuously at a predetermined rate which ensured a glucose concentration of 25–50 g/liter during growth. The culture was sparged with pure oxygen. Yield constants for glucose, nitrogen, phosphorus, and oxygen were determined at the different temperatures of propagation. When all growth conditions, except temperature, were kept constant, the maximal possible yield of exponentially grown cell mass was found to be directly proportional to the doubling time. Concentrations of up to 55 g dry cells/liter culture were achieved.     

Pilot scale exponential growth of Escherichia coli W to high cell concentration with temperature variation

An efficient method to grow Escherichia coli W to high cell concentrations on the pilot scale is described and discussed. The method involves growth linked introduction of glucose; and ammonia to the culture, sparing with oxygen, and maintenance of aerobic conditions by gradually decreasing the temperature in the culture in order to keep the oxygen demand within the limits of the capacity of supply. Under these conditions the linear rate of cell mass production is actually the result of exponential growth with a gradually decreasing growth-rate constant. About 10 kg packed cells were produced in a 50 liter working-volume fermentor in one run of 13 hr. The concentration of the cells at the end of the growth was about 47 g dry cells/liter. The expenditure for nutrients was minimal and the controls were of simple automatic nature. From the determined yield constants for glucose, nitrogen, phosphorus, and oxygen it may be inferred that the cells grown by this method are similar to those grown exponentially at constant temperature.     

A continuous,multistage tower fermentor. II. Analysis of reactor performance

A method for analyzing the reactor behavior of a continuous, multistage tower fermentor is described. A model consisting of a system of interconnected, ideal subreactors is set up on the basis of the fermentor's configuration and flow pattern. The residence time distribution curve is used to test the validity of the model and the relative quantities of flow streams and regions in the model are determined. A least-square fitting procedure between measured and calculated distribution curves is used to identify the proper model. The application of this method to real cultivation conditions is also discussed. Using this approach, the multistage tower fermentor is shown to be equivalent to a cascade of four perfectly mixed tanks with a backtracking stream between stages. The extent of backflow under various conditions has also been determined.     

Expression, purification, and characterization of equistatin in Pichia pastoris

Equistatin (EI) is a cysteine protease inhibitor that was isolated from the sea anemone Actinia equina. It belongs to a recently discovered group of thyroglobulin type-I domain inhibitors called thyropins. Since native EI is found only in low amounts in the body of sea anemone and expression of recombinant EI in Escherichia coli yielded only 1 mg/liter of protein, we used the Pichia pastoris expression system to obtain higher yields. A cDNA encoding EI was inserted into pPIC9 vector and transformed into the P. pastoris, strain GS115. Clones expressing high levels of EI were selected from 48 transformants. Recombinant EI was produced in 2-liter shake flasks and recovered from the fermentation broth by affinity chromatography using CM-papain-Sepharose. SDS-PAGE and N-terminal sequence analysis revealed that EI was N-terminally intact and running at the expected molecular weight of 22 kDa. The equilibrium dissociation constants of EI with papain and bovine cathepsin D were determined and were found to be similar to the results for the native inhibitor. EI production was scaled up to a bench top fermentor with a 25 mg/liter yield of active EI.     

Rapid ethanol fermentations using vacuum and cell recycle

Cell recycle and vacuum fermentation systems were developed for continuous ethanol production. Cell recycle was employed in both atmospheric pressure and vacuum fermentations to achieve high cell densities and rapid ethanol fermentation rates. Studies were conducted with Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ATCC No. 4126) at a fermentation temperature of 35°C. Employing a 10% glucose feed, a cell density of 50 g dry wt/liter was obtained in atmospheric-cell recycle fermentations which produced a fermentor ethanol productivity of 29.0 g/liter-hr. The vacuum fermentor eliminated ethanol inhibition by boiling away ethanol from the fermenting beer as it was formed. This permitted the rapid and complete fermentation of concentrated sugar solutions. At a total pressure of 50 mmHg and using a 33.4% glucose feed, ethanol productivities of 82 and 40 g/liter-hr were achieved with the vacuum system with and without cell recycle, respectively. Fermentor ethanol productivities were thus increased as much as twelvefold over conventional continuous fermentations. In order to maintain a viable yeast culture in the vacuum fermentor, a bleed of fermented broth had to be continuously withdrawn to remove nonvolatile compounds. It was also necessary to sparge the vacuum fermentor with pure oxygen to satisfy the trace oxygen requirement of the fermenting yeast.