Growth of Saccharomycopsis fibuligera in a continuous‐stirred‐tank fermentor

Abstract

Growth rates and amylase production rates were determined for the yeast Saccharomycopsis fibuligera grown on a simulated potato processing waste in a continuous‐stirred‐tank fermentor. S. fibuligera formed large multicellular flocs in the fermentor, and cell growth was reduced at low dilution rates because of mass‐transfer resistance. The average Thiele modulus, which is the measure of extent of substrate diffusion, had a value ranging from ϕ_av = 2.2 for D = 0.10 to 0.3 for D = 0.40. Growth rates were described by the Monod equation modified to include mass‐transfer effects. This modified Monod equation was used to predict growth rates from measured floc‐size distribution. Experimentally determined growth rates were in close agreement with these predicted values.