Improvements in titer, productivity, and yield using Solka-Floc for cellulase production

Researchers studying cellulase enzymes for the economical production of fue l ethanol envision cellulose as the carbon source. However, submerged Trich oderma reesei cultures grown on cellulose exhibit high run-to-run variabili ty. Thus, an investigation of 30 batch cellulase production experiments was instrumental in determining fermentation conditions that improved enzyme t iters, yields, and productivities. Eighteen of the 30 batch experiments exp erienced minimal process upsets and were classified into eight groups based on agitation rate, gas sparge rate, and the use of oxygen supplementation. Comparing corn steep liquor with yeast extract/peptone also tested the eff ect of different sources of nitrogen in the media. Average 7-d enzyme titer s were doubled from 4 to 8 FPU/mL primarily by increasing aeration.