Cellulase production in continuous culture by Trichoderma reesei on xylose‐based media

Trichoderma reesei (QM 9414) produced cellulase in continuous culture, on media containing xylose (1%) supplemented with sorbose (0.3%) to induce cellulase production. Maximum cell mass of 4.54 kg/m 3 occurred at pH 4.0 and a dilution rate of 0.0391 h −1 where residual substrate was 0.43 kg/m 3 , but no cellulase was produced. Maximum cellulase production of 0.69 FPU occurred at pH 3.5 and a dilution rate of 0.0110 h −1 , where cell mass production was 2.56 kg/m 3 and residual substrate was 0.15 kg/m 3 . Monod kinetic constants, corrected for endogenous metabolism, were 0.091 h −1 , 0.469 kg/m 3 , 0.00923 h −1 , and 0.470 kg cells/kg xylose at pH 3.5, for the maximum specific growth rate, Michaelis–Menten coefficient, endogenous metabolism coefficient, and yield coefficient, respectively. Specific growth rate fitted a maturation time model, which predicted decreasing maturation time with increasing pH.