EFFECT OF STIRRER SPEED AND BUFFERING AGENTS ON THE PRODUCTION OF GLUCOSE-OXIDASE AND CATALASE BY PENICILLIUM VARIABILE (P16) IN BENCHTOP BIOREACTOR

Batch cultures of Penicillium variabile P16 were grown in a 3-1 bencht op bioreactor. Glucose oxidase and catalase production was followed wh ile varying stirrer speed and adding buffering agents. Four hundred re v min(-1) appeared to be optimum to ensure good growth and best enzyme production; above this, production was reduced. Among the different c hemicals (CaCO3, NaOH, and NaOH plus CaCl2) employed to counteract the pH drop in the fermentation broth, CaCO3 gave the best results. The t ime course of growth, enzyme activities, and gluconate production at 4 00 rev min(-1) and using CaCO3 as neutralizing agent is reported.