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Influence of engineering variables upon the morphology of filamentous molds
Author(s) -
van Suijdam J. C.,
Metz B.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
biotechnology and bioengineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.136
H-Index - 189
eISSN - 1097-0290
pISSN - 0006-3592
DOI - 10.1002/bit.260230109
Subject(s) - hypha , breakup , fermentation , penicillium chrysogenum , aeration , shear rate , growth rate , rheology , chemistry , materials science , biological system , mechanics , composite material , biology , botany , mathematics , food science , physics , organic chemistry , geometry
A modal has been described for the influence of growth rate and shear stresses in the fermentor upon the morphology of filamentous molds. The main concept of this model is the dynamic equilibrium between growth and breakup of the hyphae. The latter has been approached according to well‐known engineering theories for dispersion of physical systems. Experiments to verify the model with a strain of Penicillium chrysogenum in batch and continuous culture revealed that the length of the mycelial particles increased with increasing growth rate and decreased with increasing power input her unit mass in the fermentor. Although this was qualitatively in agreement with the presented model, quantitatively the model had to be rejected. Variation of the tensile strength of the hyphae with age and culturing conditions could have been one of the causes of disagreement. Oxygen tension, varied independently from stirrer speed, in the range of 12–300 mm Hg was shown to have no influence upon the morphology. With respect to the question of possibly using high‐energy inputs in industrial mold fermentation in order to decrease hyphal length and suspension viscosity, it was concluded that this is of little practical value. A substantial decrease in hyphal length requires an enormous increase in energy input.