A repeated batch process for cultivation of Bifidobacterium longum

A repeated batch process was performed to culture Bifidobacterium longum CCRC 14634. An on-line device, oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), was used to monitor cell growth and uptake of nutrients in the culture. The ORP of the culture medium decreased substantially during fermentation until nutrients were depleted. Six cycles of batch fermentation using ORP as a control parameter were successfully carried out. As soon as ORP remained constant or increased, three-quarters of the broth was removed, and the same volume of fresh medium was fed to the fermenter for a new cycle of cultivation. Average cell concentrations of 1.9 x 10(9) and 3.4 x 10(9) cfu ml(-1) for repeated batch fermentation in MRS (Lactobacilli MRS broth) and WY (containing whey hydrolyzates, yeast extract, l-cysteine) medium, respectively, were achieved. Cell mass productivities for batch, fed-batch and repeated batch fermentation using MRS medium were 0.51, 0.41, and 0.64 g l(-1) h(-1), respectively, and those for batch and repeated batch using WY medium were 0.76, 0.99 g l(-1) h(-1), respectively. The results indicate a possible industrial process to culture Bifidobacteria sp.