[The growth characteristics of Enterococcus faecium under batch cultivation conditions]

Growth peculiarities of the strain of homoenzymic lactic acid bacteria Enterococcus faecium under periodic cultivation have been studied. The effect of carbohydrates source on the level of biomass accumulation and efficiency of its use by the strain is shown. Glucose concentration in the medium being increased from 1.0 to 3.5%, the economic effect decreases from 16.0 to 10.6%. It is established that only at the beginning of cultivation the specific growth rate of the strain is determined by the concentration of lactic acid. This dependence can be described by Ierusalimsky's equation. The obtained values of micronm and Kp are 1.5 h(-1) and 6.5 g/l, respectively. Biomass concentration being above 0.3 g ACB/l, the strain growth depends on two factors: inhibition of lactic acid and limitation of the sources of nitrogen nutrition. Interaction of these two factors results in considerable decrease of specific rate of bacterial growth.