CONTINUOUS CITRIC-ACID FERMENTATION IN A SUPPORTED BIOMASS REACTOR

A semi-submerged biodisk apparatus provided with inert matrix for cell entrapment, previously employed with success for alcohol fermentation , is proposed in this study to overwhelm the well-known problems relat ed to the continuous citric acid production, This immobilized-mycelium system shows at the same time a remarkable increase in citric acid vo lumetric productivity, with respect to a Continuous Stirred Tank React or, but the same progressive activity loss evidenced in the past with comparable immobilized-cell reactors.