The production of the antibiotic patulin in a three phase fluidized bed reactor: II. Longevity of the biocatalyst

Abstract

AbstractThe longevity of the enzyme system for the production of the antibiotic patulin by immobilized Penicillium urticae cells was studied in a three phase fluidized bed reactor. Calculation of the global rate of patulin production indicated that, if the cells were not allowed to grow, the production of patulin gradually declined and stopped at 320 h. Intermittent pulse additions of nutrients stimulated the slow growth of the cells and resulted in an extended production time of 525 h. This long term production was the result of the formation of new cells rather than the maintenance of the original ones.