[Cultivation of microorganisms in micro-volumes of culture media]

Studies on the cultivation of aerobic microorganisms in microdrops of growth medium, immobilized in a layer of highly dispersed disconnector (Aerosil), were carried out. The dispersion of the growth medium and its immobilization in a layer of Aerosil was found to produce no influence on the morphological, cultural and biochemical properties of Serratia marcescens cells, determined both immediately after treatment with the field and some time after storage of the treated suspensions. On the contrary, the duration of the action of ferromagnetic bodies produced essential influence on the viability of the microorganisms in dispersed growth medium and on the accumulation of cells in the course of subsequent cultivation. The development of cells grown in the microdrops of the nutriuent medium was similar to that of cells grown in submerged cultivation, following the S-shaped curve. With the increase of the seed dose a drop in the initial growth rate occurred and the accumulation of microbial cells increased by the end of the process. The greatest increase of biomass was observed with minimal seed doses. With a rise in the concentration of amino nitrogen in the growth medium the yield of cells increased only till this concentration reached 320 mg%. Under these conditions the specific growth rate also increased. The accumulation of cells was greater and occurred earlier when microorganisms were cultivated in immobilized state in powder.