Fed-batch

cultivation

Introduction

Chemical changes of a substrate

accomplished by selected
microorganisms
Microorganisms are bacteria, yeast,
and molds that feed on organic
materials
Food is required to grow
The reactor is the heart of any
fermentation

mode of operation

Batch reactor
Continuous reactor
Fed-Batch reactor

Batch reactor

Batch processes operate in closed

systems; substrate is added at the
beginning of the process and
products removed only at the end.

Continuous reactor

Bioreactors are operated

continuously in a few bioprocess
industries such as brewing,
production of bakers' yeast and
waste treatment.

Fed-Batch reactor

In fed-batch operation, intermittent

or continuous feeding of nutrients is
used to supplement the reactor
contents and provide control over
the substrate concentration.

Fixed volume fed-batch

The culture volume is maintained

constant by feeding the growth
limiting substrate or withdrawal of a
portion of the culture.

Variable volume fedbatch

the volume changes with the

fermentation time due to the
substrate feed.

Advantages and
disadvantages of the fedbatch reactors

The conditions are under the control

The production of by-products are avoided
Replacement of water loss by evaporation
Dealing with toxic substrate
No additional special piece of equipment is
required as compared with the batch
fermentation
There is opportunity to optimize product
synthesis

Disadvantages

It requires previous analysis of the

microorganism
The quantities of the components to
control must be above the detection
limits of the available measuring
equipment
The accumulation of non-producing or
low-producing variants may result