JP2008048721A5 - - Google Patents

Claims (10)

  The fermentation broth of microorganisms or cultured cells is filtered through a separation membrane, the product is recovered from the filtrate, the unfiltered liquid is retained or refluxed in the fermentation broth, and the fermentation raw material is added to the fermentation broth An apparatus for producing a chemical by continuous fermentation, a fermentation reaction tank for fermenting microorganisms or cultured cells, and a separation for filtering a fermentation broth provided in the fermentation reaction tank and provided with a separation membrane A membrane element, means for discharging the permeate containing the filtered fermentation product connected to the separation membrane element, and for controlling the transmembrane differential pressure of the separation membrane in the range of 0.1 to 20 kPa A continuous fermentation apparatus characterized in that the separation membrane is a porous membrane having pores having an average pore diameter of 0.01 μm or more and less than 1 μm. 2. The continuous fermentation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the porous membrane has a pure water permeability coefficient of 2 × 10 ⁻⁹ m ³ / m ² / s / pa to 6 × 10 ⁻⁷ m ³ / m ² / s / pa. .   The continuous fermentation apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the porous membrane has an average pore diameter in the range of 0.01 µm or more and less than 0.2 µm, and a standard deviation of the average pore diameter is 0.1 µm or less.   The continuous fermentation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the porous membrane has a membrane surface roughness of 0.1 µm or less.   The continuous fermentation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the porous membrane is a porous membrane including a porous resin layer.   The continuous fermentation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the material of the porous resin layer is polyvinylidene fluoride.   The continuous fermentation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the means for controlling the transmembrane pressure difference is a water head difference control apparatus that controls a liquid level difference between the fermentation broth and the porous membrane treated water.   The continuous fermentation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the means for controlling the transmembrane pressure difference is a pressure pump or / and a suction pump.   The continuous fermentation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the means for controlling the transmembrane pressure difference is a gas or liquid pressure.   The continuous fermentation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein a member constituting the separation membrane element including the porous membrane is resistant to high-pressure steam sterilization operation.