A model for biopigment formation by Serratia marcescens biovar A2/6 in batch cultures containing lactic acid and beef extract

Serratia marcescens biovar A2/A6 is able to produce a red pigment as a seco ndary metabolite which has antimicrobial activity. This paper describes its growth and biopigment formation in batch cultures, in media containing dif ferent concentrations of lactic acid and beef extract as carbon and nitroge n sources, respectively. An unstructured model has also been developed to d escribe its growth, lactic acid uptake and biopigment formation. The compar ison of simulated and experimental data shows that the proposed model predi cts reasonably well the system behaviour over a range of conditions.