Continuous production of penicillin‐g by penicillium chrysogenum cells immobilized on celite biocatalyst support particles

Alan R. Jones, Denise N. Wood, Theresa Razniewska, G. Maurice Gaucher, Leo A. Behie

The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering · 1986 · 39 citations · 14 references

Concepts

Abstract

Abstract Celite R‐630, a commercially available catalyst support, was used successfully in the batch and continuous production of Penicillin‐G by mycelial cells of Penicillium chrysogenum. As an extension of previous work, the productivity of a 1.2 L three phase fluidized bed bioreactor using the Celite support was compared directly with the same reactor in which cells had been immobilized inside a larger carrageenan support matrix. With Celite particles, maximum yields and specific reaction rates for continuous reactor runs were 0.11 g Pen‐G (K + )/g lactose and 0.05 mmol Pen‐G/h/g protein respectively. These results were similar to those obtained with carrageenan beads. However, on a reactor volume basis, Celite was five times more productive than carrageenan. Results are discussed in terms of the potential for using Celite in industrial bioreactor systems.

References

14