Summary
Examination of the relationship between the rate of oxygen transfer and the rate of polymer production revealed an unexpectedly high requirement for oxygen. At a cell density of about 3 g (dry wt)/L, the threshhold value for OTR for optimal synthesis of polymer is about 50 mmoles O2/L.hr. Whereas Rushton turbines are effecient at transfering oxygen to solution, their use reduces the quality of the recovered polymer. Although better quality polymer can be produced in a reactor employing an agitator which causes less shear stress, the productivity can be compromised due to the inefficiency in OTR. The present study describes operating conditions for the provision of sufficient OTR in a system compatible with the production of high-quality polymer whereby turbine impellers were replaced with a marine-type propeller and mass transfer was assisted by means of a gas dispersion device.
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Lawford, H., Rousseau, J. Effect of oxygen on the rate of β-1,3-glucan microbial exopolysaccharide production. Biotechnol Lett 11, 125–130 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01192188
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01192188