EFFECT OF THE AIR SUPPLY ON THE PRODUCTION OF 2,3-BUTANEDIOL BY KLEBSIELLA-PNEUMONIAE NRRL-B199

Klebsiella pneumoniae was cultivated on sucrose in batch, under five q uite different oxygen transfer conditions. Depending on the oxygen sup ply, three different phases could occur. With oxygen in solution, cell growth is exponential and butanediol/acetoin production depends on th e oxygen transfer coefficient (K(L)a). A higher K(L)a can completely h inder the butanediol formation. When dissolved oxygen concentration is zero, the growth becomes linear and the product formation has its gre atest specific rate (mu(p)) as a function of K(L)a. The maximum mu(p) is dependent on the K(L)a of each experiment. Below its maximum value, mu(p) is a function of the specific oxygen uptake rate (Q(O2)). Under a very low oxygen supply, cell growth is suppressed and diol/acetoin formation rates decrease. A theoretical interpretation of the results is proposed.