Patent GB-1059882-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to the production of micro-organisms
Inventor: LAINE BERNARD MAURICE
IPC: C12N1/26
Filed: 1962-12-31
Abstract: In cultivating a micro-organism particularly yeast, capable of growing on a feedstock consisting of or comprising a straight chain hydrocarbon, in a fermenter in the presence of the feedstock, an aqueous nutrient medium and a gas containing free oxygen, the operation is carried out in a batchwise manner whereby the rate of growth of the micro-organism increases progressively with time until a steady rate of growth is reached and wherein the feedstock is fed to the fermenter continuously or intermittently throughout a substantial part of the growth period, the amount being fed at any given time being such that the total amount of feedstock present in the fermenter at said time is, or approximates to, the optimum amount for achieving at said time, the maximum rate of growth.  The feedstock, which may have a mean molecular weight corresponding to at least 10 carbon atoms per molecule or be a petroleum fraction consisting wholly or partly of straight chain hydrocarbons, may be fed continuously at an exponentially increasing rate or intermittently in exponentially increasing quantities.  The following yeasts are particularly mentioned:  Candida lipolytica, Candida pulcherrima, Candida utilis, Candida tropicalis, Torulopsis collisculosa, Hansenula anomala, Oidium lactis, Neurospora sitophila and Mycoderma cancoillote.  Penicillium expansum, Bacillus megatherium, Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are particularly preferred among the species and strains of moulds and bacteria mentioned. Examples are directed to the cultivation of Candida lipolytica involving the graduated addition of a mixture of normal C9-C16 hydrocarbons or heavy gas-oil.ALSO:In cultivating a micro-organism, particularly yeast, capable of growing on a feedstock consisting of or comprising a straight chain hydrocarbon, in a fermenter in the presence of the feedstock, an aqueous nutrient medium and a gas containing free oxygen, the operation is carried out in a batchwise manner whereby the rate of growth of the micro-organism increases progressively with time until a steady rate of growth is reached and wherein the feedstock is fed to the fermenter continuously or intermittently throughout a substantial part of the growth period, the amount being fed at any given time being such that the total amount of feedstock present in the fermenter at said time is, or approximates to, the optimum amount for achieving at said time, the maximum rate of growth.  The feedstock, which may have a mean molecular weight corresponding to at least 10 carbon atoms per molecule or a petroleum fraction consisting wholly or partly of straight chain hydrocarbons, may be fed continuously at an exponentially increasing rate or intermittently in exponentially increasing quantities.  The following yeasts are particularly mentioned:  Candida lipolytica, Candida pulcherrima, Candida utilis, Candida tropicalis, Torulopsis collisculosa, Hansenula anomala, Oidium lactis, Neurospora sitophila and Mycoderma cancoillote. Penicillium expanum, Bacillus megatherium, Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomanas aeruginesa are particularly preferred among the species and strains of moulds and bacteria mentioned. Examples are directed to the cultivation of Candida lipolytica involving the graduated addition of a mixture of normal C9-C16 hydrocarbons or heavy gas-oil. The cell division times are given.