GB1435865A - Process for producing cells of methanol-utilizing microorganisms - Google Patents

Abstract

1435865 Yeast &c MINISTRY OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE & INDUSTRY and MITSUBISHI GAS CHEMICAL CO Inc 27 June 1974 [2 July 1973] 28651/74 Heading C6F In a process for producing micro-organism cells which involves inoculating a methanol-utilizing micro-organism into a nutrient medium comprising methanol as the main carbon source thereof, aerobically growing the micro-organsism to form a culture and harvesting the product micro-organism cells from the culture liquor, during the harvesting the methanol concentration is maintained at a value not greater than 0.02 wt. per cent based on the weight of the culture liquor (preferably not greater than 0À01 wt. per cent), such concentration being obtained either by maintaining the methanol concentration at such a value throughout the culture period or by allowing the methanol concentration to fall from a value above 0À02% (0À01%) as a result of consumption of methanol by the microorganisms before harvesting. The cultivation may be effected batch-wise, or continuously using a single culture tank or several tanks connected in series, or culture tanks of the plate column type internally equipped with perforated plates. The Examples are directed to the cultivation and harvesting of cells of Saccharomyces methanon foams FERM P-1927, Terulopsis methanofloat FERM P-1974, Candida alcomigas FERM P-1973, Pseudomonas japenica FERM P-1949 and Terulopsis methanophiles FERM P-1928. The product cells and culture liquer contained little or no formaldehyde when the methanol concentration in the culture liquer was within the specified range during harvesting of the cells. Other genera of yeasts and bacteria are mentioned.