Selective fengycin production in a modified rotating discs bioreactor.

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Biochemical Engineering
• Microbial Production

Background:

• Lipopeptides like fengycin and surfactin are valuable biomolecules with diverse applications.
• Optimizing bioreactor design is crucial for efficient and scalable microbial production.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of agitation on lipopeptide production in a modified rotating discs bioreactor.
• To enhance fengycin and surfactin yields, concentrations, and selectivity.
• To evaluate the bioreactor's potential for industrial-scale bioprocesses.

Main Methods:

• Studied the effects of rotation velocity and agitators on oxygen transfer in model media.
• Assessed lipopeptide production under various agitation conditions in the modified bioreactor.
• Analyzed dissolved oxygen, biomass (submerged and immobilized), lipopeptide concentrations, yields, and selectivity.

Main Results:

• The modified rotating discs bioreactor achieved high fengycin concentrations (up to 787 mg L(-1)).
• Optimized agitation (30 min(-1)) led to improved fengycin selectivity (up to 88%) and yields.
• Demonstrated superior yields per glucose and per biomass compared to literature values.

Conclusions:

• The modified rotating discs bioreactor significantly enhances fengycin production and selectivity.
• The non-foaming fermentation process is suitable for scaling up lipopeptide production.
• The bioreactor design offers a promising platform for various bubbleless oxygen supply bioprocesses.