Water-immiscible dissolved oxygen carriers in combination with Pluronic F 68 in bioreactors

The supply and availability of dissolved oxygen (DO) in aerobic bioprocesses is often a limiting factor for the scaling up, improvement and general performance of these bioprocesses. The use of different DO carriers, particularly the use of perfluorocarbons as oxygen carriers, is discussed in this review. It also highlights interactions of microbial cultures with the surfactant, Pluronic F 68. Although oxygen carriers have been used extensively in the medical field, this review only focuses on their use in microbial bioprocess used for the production of high-value bioproducts. The use of water-immiscible compounds in combination with Pluronic F 68 in bioprocesses is discussed with the intention of analysing their combined effect where bioreactor and biomass performance is affected by DO limitations, nutrient starvation, high concentrations of trace element ions, oxidative stress and cell death from mechanical stress.