Polysaccharide production by immobilized Aureobasidium pullulans cells in batch bioreactors

Cells of the fungus Aureobasidium pullulans ATCC 201253 were entrapped with in 4% agar cubes or 5% calcium alginate beads and were examined for their p roduction of the polysaccharide pullulan in batch bioreactors. The batch bi oreactors were utilized twice for 168 hours of polysaccharide production in medium containing corn syrup as a carbon source. The agar-entrapped cells produced nearly equivalent pullulan concentrations during both production c ycles. The alginate-entrapped cells produced higher polysaccharide levels d uring the second cycle compared to the levels observed during the initial c ycle. The agar-entrapped cells elaborated a polysaccharide with a higher pu llulan content than did the alginate-entrapped cells during both production cycles.