OXYTETRACYCLINE PRODUCTION BY STREPTOMYCES-RIMOSUS - GAS AND TEMPERATURE PATTERNS IN A SOLID-STATE COLUMN REACTOR

During oxytetracycline production by Streptomyces rimosus TM-55 on swe et potato residue in a solid-state column reactor, the moisture conten t increased by between 2 and 5% (w/w) during incubation, from an initi al content of 70 to 73%, and pH initially increased from 6.0 to 7.3, f ollowed by a gradual decrease to 6.2. Appropriate aeration enhanced ox ytetracycline production, while mixing only once daily decreased it. T he temperatures in the centre and upper layers of each reactor were hi gher than elsewhere in static non-aerated cultures. The maximum CO2 co ncentration ranged from 2.9 to 3.2% (v/v) and the minimum O2 concentra tion was 11.0 to 17.2% (v/v) in static cultures. Under optimal conditi ons, each gram of dry substrate produced the equivalent potency of 12 mg oxytetracycline.