Beta-glucan production by Botryosphaeria rhodina in different bench-top bioreactors

AIMS: Evaluation of the technical feasibility of transferring beta-glucan production by Botryosphaeria rhodina DABAC-P82 from shaken flasks to bench-top bioreactors. METHODS AND RESULTS: Three different bioreactors were used: 3 l stirred tank reactor (STR-1) equipped with two different six-blade turbines; STR as above but equipped with a three-blade marine propeller plus draft-tube (STR-2); 2 l air-lift column reactor (ALR) equipped with an external loop. STR-1, tested at three different stirrer speeds (300, 500 and 700 rev min(-1)) appeared to be less suitable for beta-glucan production by the fungus, being maximum production (19.4 g l(-1)), productivity (0.42 g l(-1) h(-1)) and yield (0.48 g g(-1) of glucose consumed) markedly lower than those obtained in shaken culture (29.7 g l(-1), 1.23 g l(-1) h(-1) and 0.61 g g(-1), respectively). Better performances were obtained with both STR-2 and ALR. With the latter, in particular, the increase of production was accompanied by reduced fermentation time (25.7 g l(-1) after only 22 h); productivity and yield were highest (1.17 g l(-1) h(-1) and 0.62 g g(-1) of glucose consumed, respectively). CONCLUSION: Using an air-lift reactor with external loop, the scaling up from shaken flasks to bench-top bioreactor of the beta-glucan production by B. rhodina DABAC-P82 is technically feasible. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Although culture conditions are still to be optimized, the results obtained using the ARL are highly promising.