Abstract:
The productivity of enzyme fermentations depends critically on maintaining a high oxygen transfer rate to satisfy the optimal oxygen demand of the microorganism for product formation. Among the several factors that affect oxygen transfer rates in a tormentor are the air flow rate and agitation. The production of alpha-amylase by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens as performed in 600-ml. and 5-litre fermentor with a working volume of 300 mL and 3 L, respectively. The experiments indicated a requirement of high rates of aeration to enhance the enzyme yield. The biomass yield and productivity of the enzyme were found to have a linear relationship with the air flow rate, and the highest productivity was observed at 1.0 vvm. A maximum productivity of 41.4 U/(mL.h) was obtained after 14 h of fermentation in 600-mL fermentor system and a comparable productivity of 40 U/(mL.h) was obtained after 12 h in the 5-litre fermentor.
