Analytical Evaluation of the Fermentation Course

Abstract

In the study of microbial conversion of steroids analytical evaluation of the process is one of the most important conditions. At the time starting steroid is being altered under the catalytical effect of the enzyme system of the microorganism used, an important role is played by the rapidity of analytical evaluation of the transformation. Here the qualitative point of view ranks before the quantitative one, especially in preliminary experiments. For these evaluation purposes chromatography is used in the first place, both paper chromatography as well as thin-layer chromatography. Both these methods comply with the requirements as to rapidity and are suitable to follow the decrease of the starting steroid and of the metabolite formation. Chromatography has also proved reliable in the second part of the process, i.e. in the isolation of the formed metabolites, as a control of the separation and purification operations. The chromatographic methods are also used when characterising and evaluating the purity of the already isolated steroid metabolites.