TRANSFER AND OXYGEN CONSUMPTION IN HIGH DENSITY CULTURE MICROORGANISM WITH ACTIVITY BIONEMATICIDE TSUKAMURELLA PAUROMETABOLA, C924

Abstract

Oxygen transfer rate and oxygen uptake was evaluated in the high cell density culture of Tsukamurella paurometabola. This bacterium is a active agent of bionematocide HeberNem.
Influence of impeller speed and aeration in the oxygen transfer rate coefficient (KLa) was determined. Oxygen uptake rate obtained was 12,53 mg O2g-1 dry cells h-1. At determined agitation and aeration conditions, dry cell concentration of 94 g L-1 may be obtained without oxygen limitations. Applying Henry´s low was determined that the pressure should be equal to 1,5 bar. to obtain 150 g L-1 of dry biomass without oxygen limitation. This strategy was corroborated at 200 L bioreactor scale. 139 ± 8 g L-1 of dry cell biomass weight was obtained at the end of culture. Oxygen transfer and uptake study helped to design a high cell density culture of Tsukamurella paurometabola C924 without oxygen limitations.