A systematic assessment of dissolved oxygen supply in a 20‐litre culture vessel

Abstract

Abstract The factors influencing aeration are discussed and, using the sulphite oxidation method of measurement, the influence of impeller diameter and speed, air rate, and air pressure on the aeration efficiency of a 20‐litre culture vessel has been determined and the power consumed by the impeller measured. Conditions are given for obtaining sulphite oxidation rates of 200–250 millimoles of O 2 per litre of medium per hour which can be increased to 500–600 millimoles by raising the operating gauge pressure from zero to 1·36 atm.