A novel fermentor system optimized for continuous production of pullulan

Abstract

A novel fermentor system containing Aureobasidium pullulans in polyurethane foam was designed to achieve continuous production of pullulan. A. pullulans cells were immobilized in 10 to 20 g polyurethane foam with pore size of 1000 Ǻ. The system has specialized aeration provision with 80 perforations of 4 mm. Pullulan production achieved was approximately 37g/l in 18 cycles at 42°C, pH 5.5 and at aeration rate of 0.5 vvm. The concentration of sucrose and ammonium sulphate was 3 and 0.5%, respectively. This novel design could serve as an excellent fermentor system in industries for large scale continuous production of pullulan.

Key words: Aureobasidium pullulans, polyurethane foam, pullulan, immobilized cells.