Microfiltration cell-recycle pilot system for continuous thermoanaerobic production of exo-beta-amylase

A microfiltration cell-recycle pilot-scale system was developed comprised of a conventional continuous-flow fermentor connected to an in situ steam-sterilizable cross-flow ceramic filter with a backflushing device. A microcomputer was used to control filtration pressure, tangential flow velocity, and backflushing. Performance of the system was tested with the anaerobic production of thermostable extracellular beta-amylase at 60 degrees C by Clostridium thermosulfurogenes on maltose or malto-dextrin media. Filtration rates during continuous cultivation were between 20 and 60 L/m(2)/h. The maltodextrin and cell debris occurring at high retentate flow rates or filtration pressures impaired the performance of the filter. Backflushing initially improved the permeate flux to 42% in a maltose medium and to 10% in a maltodextrin medium, but the effect diminished with time. The productivity of beta-amylase (as much as 48 U/mL/h) and concentration of biomass (as much as 14 g/L) were increased 11- and 12-fold, respectively, if compared to values obtained in a chemostat. The concentration of beta-amylase rose to 220 U/mL in the reactor, which was 5.5-fold more than under comparable conditions in a chemostat.