Influence of pH and impeller tip speed on the cultivation ofBifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum G4 in a milk-based medium

Abstract

Biomass production ofBifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum G4 in a milk-based medium was carried out in a 2- and 10-L stirred tank fermenters. The effects of impeller tip speed (0.28, 0.56, and 0.83 m/s) and pH control (6.0, 6.5, and 7.0) on the biomass production were investigated. The growth performance in the 2-L fermenter was significantly improved when the impeller tip speed was held constant at 0.56 m/s and the pH was controlled at 6.5. These conditions yielded a maximum biomass of 1.687×109 cfu/mL, a maximum specific growth rate of 0.504 h−1, a biomass productivity of 9.240×107 cfu/mL·h, and a biomass yield of 9.791×1010 cfu/g lactose. The consumption of milk lactose resulted in the accumulation of 7.353 g/L acetic acid and 6.515 g/L lactic acid, with an acetic:lactic ratio of 1.129. Scale-up of the fermentation process to a 10-L fermenter based on a constant impeller tip speed of 0.56 m/s yielded reproducible results with respect to biomass production and cell viability.