Patent ID: 8187844

Claim:
A process for the production of natamycin from a fermentation broth containing biomass and natamycin, wherein said process comprises: (a) disintegrating the biomass; (b) separating the natamycin from the thus treated fermentation broth to obtain a natamycin suspension; (c) adjusting the pH of the natamycin suspension to a value greater than 10 and adding an amount of a substantially water-miscible solvent sufficient to dissolve the natamycin in said natamycin suspension; (d) removing insoluble solids from said pH-adjusted natamycin solution; (e) lowering the pH of said solution obtained in step (d) to a pH of 5 to 8 to precipitate the natamycin; (f) removing the natamycin from said natamycin suspension; (g) optionally, drying of the said removed natamycin; and (h) optionally, reducing the size of the said dried natamycin; wherein the release rate of the natamycin produced from step (f): (i) is 0.1-2.0 μg/24 hours over the first 24 hours when contacted on a carrier with an agar surface of 0.6 cm diameter at 6° C. and a carrier loading of 40 μg of natamycin; (ii) decreases by 1% to 45% after at least 9 days, when contacted on a carrier with an agar surface of 0.6 cm diameter, and a carrier loading from 5 to 40 μg of natamycin; and/or (iii) ranges between 6% and 10% of the initial carrier loading after at least 9 days, when tested on a carrier with an agar surface of 0.6 cm diameter, and a carrier loading of 5 to 40 ug of natamycin.