SUSPENSION NODULE CULTURE OF THE CHINESE HERB, RHODIOLA-SACHALINENSIS, IN AN AIRLIFT REACTOR - KINETICS AND TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Suspension nodule culture of Rhodiola sachalinensis was carried out in a 10 l air-lift reactor for 30 days. The biomass of 13 gdry wt/l and salidroside content of 0.45% dry wt were obtained. No foaming was obse rved in the reactor since the broth remained almost clear throughout t he culture. The O-2 transfer coefficient k(L)a of the culture system i ncreased firstly then dropped during the culture cycle. The significan t increase in solid holdup of the culture system is suggested to be re sponsible for the variation of k(L)a.