Ethanol fermentation by flocculating yeast: Performance and stability dependence on a critical fermentation rate

Summary A system coupling fermentor and decantor permitted strong accumulation of yeast flocs that were homogeneously suspended in the reactional volume. At 100–190 g/l glucose feed practically total substrate conversion was attained. At 130 g/l glucose feed the highest productivity (18.4 g.l.h) and the highest ethanol yield (90.6%) were reached with biomass levels of 80–90 g/l. We observed that the stability of this system is limited when a critical fermentation rate (D.S_o) close to 39–40 g/l.h (with corresponding ethanol productivities of 19–20 g/l.h) is reached. Higher fermentation rates provoked de-flocculation and lost of biomass.Symbols D dilution rate (h^–1) - E ethanol (g/l) - S_r residual substrate (g/l) - S_o substrate in the feed (g/l) - X biomass (g/l) - ethanol yield (%) - DS_o fermentation rate (g/l.h) (for S_r0) - P_E ethanol productivity (g/l.h)     

Respiratory gas exchange in the airbreathing fish,Synbranchus marmoratus

Synopsis The partitioning of O₂ uptake between aquatic and aerial gas exchange and its dependence on ambient water PO₂ was studied in the facultative air breathing teleost Synbranchus marmoratus, after acclimation to well aerated water and after acute and chronic exposure to hypoxic water. O₂ uptake was also studied following acute air exposure and after prolonged entrapment in soil. Breathing rates during water and air breathing in response to reduced water PO₂ and tidal volume during air breathing were also studied. S. marmoratus satisfies its O₂ requirement by water breathing alone until water PO₂ falls below 30–50 mm Hg (switching PO₂) depending on the acclimation history. Below the switching PO₂, air breathing is adopted while active water breathing stops. The O₂ uptake varied little for all groups when the principal mode of gas exchange changed at the switching PO₂. The highest O₂ uptake prevailed when the fish employed the mode of gas exchange in operation during the acclimation period (i.e. water breathing for normoxia-acclimated, air breathing for hypoxic-acclimated).Acclimation to chronic hypoxia gave a much higher switching PO₂ 55 mm Hg) than for the other groups (about 30 mm Hg). S. marmoratus maintained its O₂ uptake when acutely exposed to air. When entrapped in soil in an aestivating state, the O₂ uptake was reduced to 25% of that in water or during acute air exposure. The overall gas exchange ratio for air breathing was very low (R_E 0.1).Branchial water pumping increased with lowering of water PO₂. The rate of air breathing was independent of water PO₂.The findings are discussed in the light of the ecophysiological conditions confronting S. marmoratus.     

Respiration and oxygen transport functions of the blood from an intertidal fish,Helcogramma medium (Tripterygiidae)

Synopsis Aquatic and aerial oxygen uptake (̇O₂), ventilation frequency, and oxygen transport properties of the blood were determined for the intertidal fish Helcogramma medium. Ventilation frequency increased in response to decreased environmental PO₂ and aquatic ̇O₂ was maintained down to a critical PO₂ of 30–40 mm Hg. Below PO₂ 30 mm Hg fish intermittently gulped air and finally emerged into air at PO₂ 18 mm Hg. After 1 h exposure to air ̇O₂ decreased to 60% of the aquatic rate and this was accompanied by an increase in blood lactate. Aerobic expansibility was reduced in air (×1.2) compared to water (× 5.5). The Hb concentration was 0.47 ± 0.13 mmol 1^–1 and hematocrit 11.55 ± 3.61% indicating a moderate O₂-carrying capacity. Oxygen affinity was not especially high (P₅₀ = 19 mm Hg at pH 7.7 and 15°C) and ATP was the predominant acid-soluble phosphate regulating P₅₀. The equilibrium curve was essentially hyperbolic (Hill's n = 1.2) with a marked Bohr effect = –1.06) and Root effect (saturation depressed by 50% at pH7.1). The pattern of respiration and the respiratory properties of the blood together with observations of the behaviour of the fish during aerial exposure indicated that Helcogramma is adapted to living in a well-aerated environment yet can adequately tolerate short term exposure to low aquatic PO₂ or air.     

The fixation probability of a beneficial allele in a population dividing by binary fission

We derive formulae for the fixation probability, P, of a rare benefical allele segregating in a population of fixed size which reproduces by binary fission, in terms of the selection coefficient for the beneficial allele, s. We find that an earlier result P 4s does not depend on the assumption of binary fission, but depends on an assumption about the ordering of events in the life cycle. We find that P 2s for mutations occurring during chromosome replication and P 2.8s for mutations occurring at random times between replication events.     

Oxygen uptake rate regulation during cell growth phase for improving avermectin B<Subscript>1a</Subscript> batch fermentation on a pilot scale (2 m<Superscript>3</Superscript>)

Avermectin B_1a batch fermentation of Streptomyces avermitilis in a 2 m³ fermentor was investigated by oxygen uptake rate (OUR) regulation during cell growth phase. OUR was controlled by adjusting of aeration and agitation. Result showed that OUR strongly affected cell growth and antibiotics production. Avermectin B_1a biosynthesis could be effectively enhanced when OUR was stably regulated at an appropriate level in batch fermentation of S. avermitilis. Avermectin B_1a yield reached 5568 ± 111 mg/l by controlling maximal OUR between 15 and 20 mmol/l/h during cell growth phase, which was increased by 21.8% compared with the control (maximal OUR above 20 mmol/l/h). The stimulation effect on avermectin B_1a production could be attributed to the improved supply of propionic acid and acetic acid, the precursors of avermectin B_1a, in the cells. Hence, this OUR control method during cell growth phase may be a simple and applicable way to improve industrial production of avermectin.     

Separation and characterization of the complexes constituting the cellulolytic enzyme system of Clostridium thermocellum

Clostridium thermocellum, strain JW20 (ATCC 31449) when growing in cellulose produces a cellulolytic enzyme system, that at the early stage of the fermentation is largely bound to the substrate. As cellulose is consumed the bound enzyme is released as free enzyme to the culture fluid. The bound enzyme fraction extracted with distilled water from the cellulose contains two major components, a large complex (M_r100×10⁶) and a small complex M_r4.5×10⁶) which were separated by gel filtration and sucrose solved by affinity chromatography into a complex that binds to the column and into a non-bindable mixture of proteins. All four fractions have endo--glucanase activity but only the two bound complexes and the free bindable complex hydrolyze crystalline cellulose with cellobiose as the main product. These three complexes are qualitatively similar in that they each contain about 20 different polypeptides (M_r values from 45,000 to 200,000) of which about ten are major components. However, the relative amounts of some of the peptides in the complexes differ. At least four polypeptides of the complexes have endo--glucanase activity.Abbreviations CM cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose - CMCase carboxymethyl cellulase cosidered endo--1,4-glucanase - SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate - YAS yellow affinity substance - YAS-cellulose yellow affinity substance-cellulose complex     

Effect of inorganic nutrition on the formation of lateral roots in Dracaena fragrans Ker-Gawl cultured in vitro

The effect of inorganic nutrition on the formation of lateral roots has been studied in Dracaena fragrans Ker-Gawl cultured in vitro. MS macronutrient salts imposed inhibition of lateral root formation in 95% of primary adventitious roots which could be overcome by:     

Enzymatic Synthesis and Antioxidant Properties of <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">L</Emphasis>-Ascorbyl Oleate and <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">L</Emphasis>-Ascorbyl Linoleate

L-Ascorbyl oleate and L-ascorbyl linoleate were synthesized by an immobilized lipase from Candida antarctica with yields of 38% and 44%, respectively. L-Ascorbyl oleate was stable in sterile culture medium over 12 h at 37 °C but L-ascorbyl linoleate degraded by 17%. Ascorbyl oleate had a better protective effect on human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells treated with H₂O₂ than of L-ascorbic acid-2-phosphate-6-palmitate (Asc2P6P).Revisions requested 21 July 2004/26 August 2004; Revisions received 20 August 2004/27 September 2004     

Mapping of brain activity in mesencephalic and diencephalic structures of toads during presentation of visual key stimuli: a computer assisted analysis of (14C)2DG autoradiographs

Summary The (¹⁴C)2DG autoradiographic technique has been employed to quantitatively map glucose utilization in the mesencephalon, the diencephalon and the cerebellum, of toads in response to configurational moving visual stimuli: (i) a 0.4 cm × 2.8 cm worm-like stripe (W) which elicited prey catching responses, (ii) a 8.4 cm × 8.4 cm square (S) that released predator avoidance responses, and (iii) a 2.8 cm × 0.4 cm antiworm-like stripe (A) which elicited no motor activity.For various brain nuclei different relationships were obtained: The optic tectum showed statistical significant higher 2DG uptake during worm-stimulation (¯X _W) than during antiworm stimulation (¯X _A), i.e.¯X _W>¯X _A. The latter visual pattern led to a 2DG utilization that was statistically significant stronger than during stimulation with a square (¯X _S), i.e.¯X _A>¯X _S. Thus, in comparison between right and left hemisphere as well as between brains the following ratios were obtained:Optic tectum:¯X _W>¯X _A>¯X _S; nucleus isthmi:¯X _W>¯X _A-¯X _s; posterodorsal lateral thalamic nucleus:¯X _S>¯X _A>¯X _W; posteroventral lateral thalamic nucleus:¯X _S>¯X _A¯X _W; posterior thalamic nucleus:¯X _W>¯X _A¯X _S; anteripr division of the lateral thalamic nucleus:¯X _W>¯X _A¯X _S; anterior thalamic nucleus:¯X _A>¯X _S>¯X _W; nucleus of Bellonci and dorsal division of the ventrolateral thalamic nucleus:¯X _W¯X _A¯X _S; cerebellum:¯X _S¯X _W>¯X _A.Abbreviations A anterior thalamic nucleus - Cb cerebellum - Hyp hypothalamus - Ist nucleus isthmi - cl. Ist contralateral Ist - La lateral thalamic nucleus, anterior division - Lpd lateral thalamic nucleus, posterodorsal division - Lpv lateral thalamic nucleus, posteroventral division - MP medial pallium - NB/VLd nucleus of Bellonci and ventrolateral thalamic nucleus, dorsal division - P posterior thalamic nucleus - PO preoptic area - Sna snapping evoking area=ventrolateral tectum - Str striatum - Tec tectum opticum     

The malonyl gramicidin channel: NMR-derived rate constants and comparison of calculated and experimental single-channel currents

Summary Malonyl gramicidin is incorporated into lysolecithin micelles in a manner which satisfies a number of previously demonstrated criteria for the formation of the transmembrane channel structure. By means of sodium-23 nuclear magnetic resonance, two binding sites are observed: a tight site and a weak site with binding constants of approximately 100m ^–1 and 1m ^–1, respectively. In addition, off-rate constants from the two sites were estimated from NMR analyses to bek _off ^t 3×10⁵/sec andk _off ^w 2×10⁷/sec giving, with the binding constants, the on-rate constants,k _on ^t 3×10⁷/msec andk _on ^w 2×10⁷/m sec.Five different multiple occupancy models with NMR-restricted energy profiles were considered for the purpose of calculating single-channel currents as a function of voltage and concentration utilizing the four NMR-derived rate constants (and an NMR-limit placed on a fifth rate constant for intrachannel ion translocation) in combination with Eyring rate theory for the introduction of voltage dependence.Using the X-ray diffraction results of Koeppe et al. (1979) for limiting the positions of the tight sites, the two-site model and a three-site model in which the weak sites occur after the tight site is filled were found to satisfactorily calculate the experimental currents (also reported here) and to fit the experimental currents extraordinarily well when the experimentally derived values were allowed to vary to a least squares best fit. Surprisingly the best fit values differed by only about a factor of two from the NMR-derived values, a variation that is well within the estimated experimental error of the rate constants.These results demonstrate the utility of ion nuclear magnetic resonance to determine rate constants relevant to transport through the gramicidin channel and of the Eyring rate theory to introduce voltage dependence.     

Postglacial loss of microsatellite variation in the landlocked Lake Saimaa ringed seal

The Lake Saimaa ringed sealPhoca hispida saimensis has lived as anisolated landlocked population in easternFinland since the early post-glacial. In thelast century, the population crashed down to c.200 individuals, and is under a constant threatof extinction. We evaluated the genetic historyof the Saimaa population through a comparisonwith the conspecific sister populations in theArctic Ocean and the Baltic Sea, which haveretained high levels of variation since thedeglaciation. At eight microsatellite loci, thecurrent gene diversity (heterozygosity) of theSaimaa seal was 69% lower than in thereference populations. Allowing reasonablemutation rates ( = 10^–4), thisimplies a long-term post-glacial effectivepopulation size of N _e 350,and a slow average rate of inbreeding F 0.15% per generation during the c.860 generations (9 500 years) of isolation. Thecurrent N _e is an order of magnitudesmaller and F correspondinglylarger. Whereas the additional loss of markervariation in the short term will not be highrelative to that already taken place, it seemsunwarranted to suppose that the past, slowinbreeding would have effectively purged thepopulation of genetic load and reduced thegenetic risks from small population size.Although the population is now clearlygeographically subdivided in the complex lakesystem, we found little genetic differentiationbetween main breeding areas (F _ST =0.02). However, at the current low populationdensities, the subdivision may markedly furtherincrease the future rate of inbreeding.     

Effect of bioreactor configuration on substrate uptake by cell suspension cultures of the plant Eschscholtzia californica

Summary The uptake of carbohydrates and oxygen by cell suspension cultures of the plant Eschscholtzia californica (California poppy) was studied in relation to biomass production in shake flasks, a 1-1 stirred-tank bioreactor and a 1-1 pneumatically agitated bioreactor. The sequence of carbohydrate uptake was similar in all cases, with sucrose hydrolysis occurring followed by the preferential uptake of glucose. The uptake of fructose was found to be affected by the oxygen supply rate. Carbohydrate utilization occurred at a slower rate in the bioreactors. Apparent biomass yields, Y _X/S, ranged from 0.42 to 0.50 g biomass/g carbohydrate, while true biomass yields, Y _X/S, were about 0.69 g/g. The maintenance coefficient for carbohydrate, m _S, ranged between 0.002 and 0.008 g/dry weight (DW) per hour. The maximum measured specific oxygen uptake rate was 0.56 mmol O₂/g DW per hour and occurred early in the growth stage. The decline in specific uptake rate coincided with a decline in cell viability. The oxygen uptake rate was faster in shake flasks, corresponding to the higher growth rate obtained. The true growth yield on oxygen, YX/O₂, was calculated to range from 0.83 to 1.23 g biomass/g O₂, while the maintenance coefficient, mO₂, ranged from 0.15 to 0.25 mmol O₂/g DW per hour. The growth yields for oxygen determined from the stoichiometry of an elemental balance were within 10% of those calculated from experimental data. Offprint requests to: Raymond L. Legge     

Partial purification and characterization of a folatebinding protein from human choroid plexus

A folate-binding protein (binder) from human choroid plexus was solubilized with Triton X-100 and partially purified in three steps: (1) affinity chromatography, (2) Sephadex G-200 column chromatography, and (3) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. When the partially purified binder was subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the binding activity was located in the region of the gel with a molecular weight between 45,000 and 60,000. The specific activity of the binder after the three purification steps was 1.2 g folic acid/mg protein, a 316-fold purification. Binding activity of the partially purified binder decreased below pH 6.0 and above pH 8.0 was unaffected by treatment with ribonuclease or deoxyribonuclease, but was abolished with trypsin, chymotrypsin, or protease (Streptomyces griesus). The binding of folic acid to the human binder was inhibited by folate > H₄-folate > methyl-H₄-folate dihydrofolate pteroic acid methotrexate aminopterin.     

Evaluation of monitoring approaches and effects of culture conditions on recombinant protein production in baculovirus-infected insect cells

The baculovirus infection process ofSpodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) insect cells in oxygen-controlled bioreactors in serum-free medium was investigated using a recombinantAutographa californica (AcNPV) virus expressing -galactosidase enzyme as a model system. A variety of monitoring techniques including trypan blue exclusion, fluorescent dye staining, oxygen uptake rate (OUR) measurements, and glucose consumption were applied to infected cells to determine the best way of evaluating cell integrity and assessing the course of baculovirus infection. The metabolism of newly-infected cells increased 90% during the first 24 hours, but as infection proceeded, and cells gradually succumbed to the baculovirus infection, the cytopathic effect of the baculovirus on the cells became evident. Oxygen and glucose uptake rate measurements appeared to more accurately assess the condition of infected cells than conventional trypan blue staining, which tended to overestimate cell viability in the mid stages of infection. The optimal harvest time varied, depending on which technique — SDS-PAGE, chromogenic (ONPG) or fluorometric (C₁₂FDG) — was used to monitor -galactosidase production. Specific -galactosidase production was found to be insensitive to a wide range of culture dissolved oxygen tensions, whereas resuspending cells in fresh medium prior to infection increased volumetric productivity approximately two-fold (800,000 units -galactosidase/ml) compared to cultures infected in batch mode and allowed successful infections to occur at higher cell densities.Abbreviations ONPG ortho-phenyl 2--D-galactopyranoside - OUR oxygen uptake rate (-mol O₂/liter/hour) - q_glucose specific glucose uptake rate (mg glucose/10⁶cell/hour) - q_glutamine specific glutamine uptake rate (mg glutamine/10⁶cell/hour) - qO₂ specific oxygen uptake rate (-mol O₂/10⁶cell/hour) - MOI virus multiplicity of infection (viral plaque forming units/cell)     

Oxygen delivery requirements of Colletotrichum truncatum during germination,vegetative growth,and sporulation

Optimization of O₂ delivery was the key to successful conidiation of Colletotrichum truncatum in submerged fermentor cultures supplied with 20 g carbon/l and C:N at the optimal 10:1 mass ratio for spore efficacy. Minimal mycelial fragmentation and maximal biomass and spore yields were provided by an O₂ transfer program that called for gradual increases in stirring rate to compensate for rising cell concentration and viscosity. The utility of an event-based O₂ transfer program was further supported by our observation of different O₂ requirements for each phase of the life cycle. Spore germination did not occur in cultures sparged with N₂. However, even low levels of O₂ [10% dissolved O₂ tension (DOT)] allowed 100% germination. The specific growth rate of the mycelia was a Monod-like function of DOT. The maximal growth rate was achieved when 15% DOT was provided via O₂ transfer at a specific rate of 5.4 × 10^–3 mol/g per hour. Sporulation had a strict O₂ requirement, and its rate and yield were optimized by providing 55% DOT following the cessation of growth. The specific O₂ demand of optimally sporulating mycelia was 4.9 × 10^–4 mol/g per hour, an order of magnitude less than that associated with growing mycelia. Behaving as a pseudoplastic fluid, the fermentation broth reached a maximum apparent viscosity of 70 P at the onset of sporulation when the O₂ demand was low. However, the maximum power requirement approx. 7.9 W/l occurred during the last 36 h of growth when the O₂ demand was highest. Correspondence to: P. J. Slininger     

Stimulation of insulin release from pancreatic islets by quinones

Coenzyme Q (CoQ₀) and other quinones were shown to be potent insulin secretagogues in the isolated pancreatic islet. The order of potency was CoQ₀benzoquinonehydroquinonemenadione. CoQ₆ and CoQ₁₀ (ubiquinone), duroquinone and durohydroquinone did not stimulate insulin release. CoQ₀'s insulinotropism was enhanced in calcium-free medium and CoQ₀ appeared to stimulate only the second phase of insulin release. CoQ₀ inhibited inositol mono-, bis- and trisphosphate formation. Inhibitors of mitochondrial respiration (rotenone, antimycin A, FCCP and cyanide) and the calcium channel blocker verapamil, did not inhibit CoQ₀-induced insulin release. Dicumarol, an inhibitor of quinone reductase, did not inhibit CoQ₀-induced insulin release, but it did inhibit glucose-induced insulin release suggesting that the enzyme and quinones play a role in glucose-induced insulin release. Quinones may stimulate insulin release by mimicking physiologically-occuring quinones, such as CoQ₁₀, by acting on the plasma membrane or in the cytosol. Exogenous quinones may bypass the quinone reductase reaction, as well as many reactions important for exocytosis.     

Density and apparent location of the sodium pump in frog sartorius muscle

Summary The binding of the cardiosteroid³H-ouabain to frog skeletal muscle was determined by studying the kinetics of its uptake and release.The amount of ouabain bound as a function of drug concentration in the external medium follows a hyperbolic relationship with a maximum binding (B _max) of the order of 2500 molecules per square micrometer of surface membrane and an affinity constant (K) of 2.2×10^–7 m. The data do not suggest a drug-receptor (Na pump site) relation other than one-to-one.Ouabain molecules are released from whole muscle into ouabain-free media very slowly. The release is a single exponential function of time (25 hr). When re-binding is prevented by the presence of unlabeled ouabain in the external medium, the loss of labeled ouabain is increased (15 hr). Increasing [K⁺]₀ from 2.5 to 10mm slows the time course of binding without any significant change in binding capacity of the muscle fibers.Experiments on detubulated muscles indicate that the density of pump sites is considerably higher in the surface than in the T-tubular membrane. These findings agree with the report by Narahara et al. [Narahara, H.T., Vogrin, V.G., Green, J.D., Kent, R.A., Gould, M.K. (1979)Biochim. Biophys. Acta 552:247] on the distribution of (Na⁺+K⁺)-ATPase among different cell membrane fractions from frog skeletal muscle.     

Metabolic changes during substrate shifts in continuous cultures of the yeast Candida boidinii variant 60

Summary Substrate shift experiments in chemostat cultures with either methanol or glucose as carbon source were performed with the yeast Candida boidinii variant 60. At low dilution rates of 0.064 h^–1 the culture may be easily shifted from methanol to glucose medium and back again to methanol. From these experiments it can be seen that glucose does not give rise to any catabolite inhibition of alcohol oxidase. Alcohol oxidase and formaldehyde dehydrogenase seem to be regulated by a repression-derepression mechanism, as small basal activities of both these enzymes can still be measured during growth on glucose. On the other hand, formate dehydrogenase activity is completely absent in the presence of glucose. This kind of regulation seems to favor the smooth switch from growth on glucose to methanol metabolism.With methanol or glucose, growth yields (Y_S) of 0.3 and 0.35, respectively may be obtained, and oxygen consumption (Q_{O 2}) is much higher in methanol cultures than in glucose-grown cells. Accordingly, the RQ values during growth on methanol decrease to about 0.5. Based on the yield coefficient of 0.3, it is possible to calculate that 38% of the methanol consumed must be incorporated into biomass, whereas 62% of the methanol is oxidized to CO₂. The corresponding RQ of 0.56 could not be experimentally ascertained.The activities of three mitochondrial enzymes were found to be higher in methanol-grown cells than in cells from glucose cultures. The low activites of enzymes for the phosphogluconate route in methanol-grown cells indicates that a cyclic oxidation of formaldehyde via hexose phosphate to CO₂ cannot be of great importance for methanol metabolism.List of Symbols D 1/h Dilution rate - 1/h Specific growth rate - Q_{CO 2} mmol/g·h Specific CO₂ production rate - Q_{O 2} mmol/g·h Specific O₂ comsumption rate - Q_S g/g·h Specific substrate consumption rate - RQ ./. Respiratory quotient (Q_{CO 2}/Q_{O 2}) - S_O g/l Substrate concentration in the feeding medium - $#x0073;$#x0304 g/l Substrate concentration in the fermentor - $#x0078;$#x0304 g/l Biomass in the fermentor - Y_{O 2} g/mmol O₂ Biomass yield on oxygen - Y_S g/g Biomass yield on carbon source     

Xylitol formation by Candida boidinii in oxygen limited chemostat culture

Summary Production of xylitol by Candida boidinii NRRL Y-17213 occurs under conditions of an oxygen limitation. The extent to which substrate is converted to xylitol and its coproducts (ethanol, other polyols, acetic acid), and the relative flow rates of substrate to energetic and biosynthetic pathways is controlled by the degree of oxygen limitation.With decrease in oxygen concentration in the inlet gas, for a constant dilution rate of 0.05 1/h. the specific oxygen uptake rate decreased from 1.30 to 0.36 mmol/gh Xylitol was not produced at specific oxygen uptake rates above 0.91 mmol/gh. Upon shift to lower oxygen rates, specific xylitol production rate increased more rapidly than specific ethanol production rate:Nomenclature D dilution rate (1/h) - DOT dissolved oxygen tension (%) - m_o2 maintenance coefficient (mmol O₂/g cell mass h) - q_o2 specific oxygen uptake rate (mmol O₂/g cell mass h) - q_s specific xylose uptake rate (g xylose/g cell mass h) or (mmol xylose/g cell mass h) - q_x specific xylitol production rate (g xylitol/ g cell mass h) or (mmol xylitol/ g cell mass h) - q_e specific ethanol production rate (g ethanol/ g cell mass h) or (mmol ethanol/ g cell mass h) - q_CO2 specific carbon dioxide production rate (mmol CO₂/g cell mass h) - S xylose concentration (g/1) - Y_cm/s cell mass yield coefficient, (g cell mass/mmol xylose) or (g cell mass/ g xylose consumed) - Y_cm/O2 cell mass yield coefficient, (g cell mass/mmol O₂) - Y_X/S xylitol yield coefficient (g xylitol/g xylose consumed) - Y_x/O2 xylitol yield coefficient (g xylitol/mmol O₂) - Y_e/s ethanol yield coefficient (g ethanol/g xylose consumed) - OUR oxygen uptake rate (mmol O₂/1h) - specific growth rate (1/h)     

Induction effect of PO 2 during continuous yeast production from ethanol in a multistage tower fermentor

Summary The effect of the periodic variation of the partial pressure of oxygen in the aeration gas on biomass concentrations, ethanol conversion, yield and productivity during continuous cultivations of the yeast Candida utilis in a multistage tower fermentor was studied. The results were compared with those obtained under aeration conditions with a constant P_{O 2} in the aeration gas. The results demonstrated that, with the optimum P_{O 2} in the aeration gas, the aeration procedure with the periodic variation of P_{O 2} in the gas phase permitted achievement of the same process parameters as those under constant P_{O 2}. Using this new aeration procedure, the consumption of pure oxygen can be lowered by 55% to 60%. In addition, the significance of the induction effect of P_{O 2} on growth characteristics in the individual stages of the fermentor was proved.Symbols Ac Concentration of acetic acid (g/l) - i Number of stage - P_{O 2} Partial pressure of oxygen in the aeration gas (torr) - P_R Productivity of the fermentor (g cell dwt/l/h) - S_R Ethanol concentration in the feed (g/l) - S Ethanol concentration in the cultivation broth (g/l) - t Time of continuous cultivation (h) - X Cell dry weight concentration (g/l) - (Y_X/S)_W Yield of cell dry weight from ethanol for the whole fermentor (g cell dwt/g ethanol) - Concentration interval in which parameters varied during the long-term cultivation at constant constant P_{O 2}=263.5 torr in the aeration gas - ₁ Concentration interval in which parameters varied during the long-term cultivation before the increase of P_{O 2} in the aeration gas - ₂ Concentration interval in which parameters varied during the long-term cultivation immediately after the decrtease of P_{O 2} in the aeration gas - ₃ Concentration interval in which parameters varied during the long-term cultivation about 24 h after the decrease of P_{O 2} in the aeration gas - ₄ Concentration interval in which parameters varied during the long-term cultivation about 48 h after the decrease of P_{O 2} in the aeration gas