Process intensification by direct product sequestration from batch fermentations: application of a fluidised bed,...

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Biochemical Engineering
• Microbial Fermentation

Background:

• Extracellular acid protease from Yarrowia lipolytica is a valuable bioproduct.
• Conventional purification involves multiple discrete steps: fermentation, broth clarification, and chromatography.
• Existing methods can be inefficient, impacting yield and product quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically compare the efficacy of different primary purification strategies for Yarrowia lipolytica extracellular acid protease.
• To evaluate conventional purification versus fluidised bed adsorption techniques.
• To assess the advantages of direct product sequestration (DPS) integrated with fermentation.

Main Methods:

• Comparison of conventional purification (fermentation, clarification, anion exchange chromatography) with fluidised bed adsorption.
• Evaluation of fluidised bed adsorption directly interfaced with post-fermentation broth.
• Assessment of fluidised bed adsorption integrated directly with productive fermentations (DPS).

Main Results:

• Direct product sequestration (DPS) demonstrated superior performance in protease purification.
• DPS resulted in improved yield and enhanced molecular quality of the extracellular acid protease.
• Fluidised bed adsorption, particularly when integrated with fermentation, offers significant advantages over conventional methods.

Conclusions:

• Direct product sequestration (DPS) represents a more effective primary purification strategy for microbial extracellular bioproducts.
• The design and operation of DPS devices are crucial for optimizing yield and product quality.
• DPS technology has broad applicability for other extracellular bioproducts from microbial fermentations.