JPS62259576A - Fermentation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To shorten the time necessary for acclimatization and to continue high productivity of fermentation product preventing metabolic inhibition, by connecting a culture tank with a filter to separate a culture liquid into fermentation cells and a fermentation product and with a membrane-type reactor having a membrane to divide the space in the reactor for feeding a raw material liquid to the culture liquid. CONSTITUTION:The space in a membrane-type reactor 1 is divided with a partition membrane 14 into a culture liquid chamber 12 and a raw material liquid chamber 13. The culture liquid chamber 12 is connected to a culture tank 16 through pipes 15a, 15b to circulate the culture liquid. The raw material liquid chamber 13 is connected to a raw material tank 18 through pipes 15c, 15d to enable the circulation of the raw material liquid. The culture tank 16 is connected with an aseptic water tank 22 through a pipe 15e to be fed with aseptic water. The culture tank 16 is connected with a filter 23 through pipes 15f, 15g and the fermented liquid is separated with the filter 23 into a fermentation product and fermenting bacterial cells. The latter component is returned to the culture tank 16 and the former component is collected as the objective product.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Field of Application) The present invention relates to improvements in fermentation equipment for producing flid foods such as miso and soy sauce.

(Prior Art) As a conventional fermentation apparatus, a V4 type fermentation apparatus shown in FIG. 2 is known. That is, 1 in the figure is a raw material tank, 2 is a culture tank,
3.4 is a pump, and 5 is a fermentation tank.

In order to produce fermented foods using such a fermentation device, a raw material liquid pre-digested by Aspergillus oryzae is stored in the raw material tank 1, and a culture liquid obtained by culturing trill bacteria (yeast bacteria and lactic acid bacteria) at a high concentration is stored in the culture tank 2. 3. Pump the raw material solution and culture solution.
4 to the acid tank 5 and fermentation is carried out for 1 to 3 months while stirring.

In the above-mentioned fermentation process, different types of fermentation reactions generally occur subsequently, having the characteristics shown in FIG.

In Figure 3, the horizontal axis is time, the vertical axis is concentration, curve A is the concentration of fermentation products (e.g. alcohol concentration), curve B is the concentration of fermenting bacteria (e.g. yeast concentration), and curve C is the concentration of residual substrate (e.g. alcohol concentration).
For example, glucose concentration). [The concentration of fermenting bacteria passes through the acclimatization period (tl) after inoculation (t-0), enters the logarithmic growth phase (1+ to t2), and rapidly increases. At the same time substrate I
lt decreases and allll acid product concentration increases. However, even though there is residual substrate, as the fermentation product concentration approaches Cp, the fermentation bacteria concentration decreases and the increase in the m-intoxication product concentration stops. This is thought to be because when the fermentation product exceeds a predetermined concentration, the fermentation tube becomes metabolically active and inhibits proliferation.

Conventional as explained above! 1 In a fermentation device, ■ acclimatization is required, fermentation takes a long time, ■ metabolic rate due to fermentation products occurs, and productivity (fermentation tank ψ volume/production per unit time! (g/ρ)・We cannot expect an improvement in hr) ), ■
There are problems such as quality deterioration due to contamination with N bacteria and unexpected progression of microbial reactions.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it shortens the acclimation period, prevents metabolic deterioration, maintains high productivity, and further eliminates harmful bacteria. riots that can prevent the contamination of
The aim is to provide equipment.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention provides a membrane reactor whose interior is divided into a culture medium chamber 1'a and a raw material liquid chamber by a diaphragm, and a culture liquid chamber of this reactor. A culture tank in which a culture solution including a fermentation cylinder is circulated, a raw material tank in which a raw material liquid is circulated between a raw material liquid chamber of the reactor, and a sterile tank that supplies sterile water to the culture tank. a water tank, connected to the culture tank, separating the culture solution in the culture tank;
This fermentation apparatus is characterized by being equipped with a filter for returning the fermentation bacteria to the culture tank and supplying the fermentation product to the production system.

(Function) According to the fermentation apparatus of the present invention described above, the fermentation reaction proceeds through the diaphragm in the membrane reactor, and the concentration of fermentation products in the circulating culture solution increases. Pull it out,
Now separate the culture solution and 111! The concentration of fermentation products in the circulating culture system can be increased by returning the i-ferment to the culture tank, supplying the w-J fermentation product to the production system, and replenishing the decreased amount of culture solution with sterile water from the sterile water tank. can suppress the rise in As a result, the II'M product concentration in the culture system can be maintained below the metabolically inhibiting concentration, and productivity can be significantly improved.

In addition, since it is a closed system, high-quality fermented foods can be produced with good reproducibility by preventing the contamination of various bacteria and the unexpected progression of fermentation reactions. Furthermore, since the culture solution can be separated using a filter and the Wi1m bacteria can be returned to the culture tank, leakage to the outside of the fermentation tube can be prevented.

(Embodiments of the Invention) Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

Reference numeral 11 in the figure is a cylindrical membrane reactor whose upper and lower surfaces are sealed. Inside the reactor 11, there is a diaphragm 14 that divides the reactor into a culture solution chamber 12 and a raw material solution chamber 13. is arranged parallel to the side surface of the The diaphragm 14 is formed of, for example, an ultrafiltration membrane with a molecular weight cutoff of 1000000 to 1,000,000, a precision filtration membrane with a pore size of 0.01 to 1 μm, or a ceramic membrane. The membrane reactor 1
A culture tank 16 filled with a culture solution is connected to the entrance of the first culture solution chamber 12 via a pipe 15a, and a pump 17a is interposed in the pipe 15a. This culture solution should be prepared in advance. ! 1 intoxicant (e.g. yeast) 108 to 1
08 pieces/m! 2.

At the outlet of the culture solution chamber 12 of the membrane reactor 11, there is a pipe 1.
It is connected to the culture tank 16 via 5b. In such a configuration, by operating the pump 17a, the culture solution in the culture tank 16 is circulated through the pipe 15a1, the culture solution chamber 12, and the pipe 15b.

In addition, a pipe 1 is provided at the entrance of the raw material liquid chamber 13 of the reactor 11.
A raw material tank 18 containing a raw material liquid is connected via a pipe 5c, and a pump 17b is interposed in the pipe 15c. The raw material liquid in the raw material tank 18 is, for example, a mixture of koji mold, steamed soybeans, and salt that is pasteurized, fluidized by adding sterile water, and digested by koji mold in advance. The outlet of the raw material liquid chamber 13 of the reactor 11 is connected to a mixer 19 constituting a production system via a pipe 15d. A regulating valve 2o is interposed in this piping 15d, and a branch pipe 21 connected to the raw material tank 18 is provided in a portion of the piping 156 between the regulating valve 19 and the raw material liquid chamber 13. There is. In such a configuration, by operating the pump 17b with the regulating valve 20 closed, the raw material liquid in the raw material tank 18 is supplied to the pipe 15G, the raw material liquid chamber 13, and the pipe 15d.
and circulates through the branch pipe 21.

Furthermore, a sterile water tank 22 containing sterile water is connected to the culture tank 16 via a pipe 15e, and the pipe 1
A pump 17G for supplying sterile water from the sterile water tank 22 to the culture tank 16 is interposed in 5e. In addition,
A liquid level gauge (not shown) is inserted into the culture medium tank 16, and when the water level of the culture liquid detected by the liquid level gauge falls below a set water level.

A signal is output to the operating section of the pump 17c, and the pump 17c is activated so that sterile water from the sterile water tank 22 can be supplied into the culture tank 16 through the pipe 15e. In addition, a filter 23 is connected to the culture tank 16 via a pipe 15f.
is connected to the pipe 15f, and the culture tank 1 is connected to the pipe 15f.
A pump 17d for supplying the culture solution in 6 to the filter 23 is interposed. An ultrafiltration membrane 24 having a molecular weight of 1000 to 1000 is disposed in the filter.

The culture solution supplied to the filter 23 exceeds its limit of 81 y! 24, and one of the separated fermentation bacteria is transferred to pipe 1.
50 to the culture tank 16, and the other intoxicated product II is supplied to the mixer 19 via pipe 15h.

Next, the action of the aforementioned mm-enabled sphere will be explained.

First, for example, a mixture of koji mold, steamed soybeans, and salt is pasteurized, then sterile water is added to fluidize it, and a predetermined amount of the raw material liquid, which has been previously digested by koji mold, is introduced into the raw material tank 18. Subsequently, after closing the regulating valve 20, the pump 17a is operated to circulate the culture solution containing the fermented bacteria in the culture tank 16 through the pipe 15a1, the culture solution chamber 12 of the membrane reactor 11, and the pipe 15b.

At this time, the circulation flow rate of the culture solution is set at 1 from the viewpoint of preventing sedimentation of the fermenting bacteria, immobilizing the fermenting bacteria on the wall surface of the diaphragm 14, and preventing contamination.
Range of 0-10' cR/IRin, preferably 102
~103CIII/1n. At the same time pump 17
b is operated to circulate the raw material liquid in the raw material tank 18 through the pipe 15G, the raw material liquid chamber 13 of the reactor 11, the pipe 15d, and the branch pipe 21. At this time, the substrate in the raw material liquid circulating through the raw material liquid chamber 13 passes through the diaphragm 14 of the reactor 11, diffuses in concentration to the culture liquid chamber 12 on the opposite side, and circulates within the culture liquid chamber 12. A fermentation reaction occurs by Hepatobacterium in the nutrient solution to produce the #Iiam product from the substrate.

The culture solution is circulated between the culture solution chamber 12 of the membrane reactor 11 and the culture tank 16 to enter the culture solution! ! After producing 111W product, the pump 17d is operated to draw the culture solution in the culture tank 16 to the filter 23 through the pipe 15f. In this filter 23, the ultrafiltration membrane 24 separates the fermentation bacteria and high molecular substances in the culture solution from the fermentation products and relatively low molecular substances. The Wl bacteria and polymer substances are transferred to the culture tank 16 through the piping 15a without leaking to the outside.
will be returned to. Fermentation products and relatively low molecular weight substances are
It is supplied to one mixer through a pipe 15h. The raw material liquid is supplied to the mixer 19 by opening the on-off valve 20 and mixed with the fermentation product to produce a desired fermented food. Further, when the water level of the culture tank 16 decreases as the culture solution is withdrawn from the culture tank 16, a signal is output from the liquid level gauge (not shown) to the pump 17c, which activates the pump. Sterile water is replenished into the culture tank 16 through the pipe 15e, and the flow of the culture solution circulation system is maintained at a constant state.

Circulation of the raw material liquid between the raw material liquid chamber 13 and the raw material tank 18 of the membrane reactor 11 mentioned above, and circulation of the culture liquid between the culture liquid chamber 12 of the membrane reactor 11 and the culture tank 16. During the circulation, a l[1 intoxication product corresponding to the substrate passing through the diaphragm 14 is generated as shown in equation (1) below. In addition, the culture tank 16
By drawing the culture fluid from the culture medium into the filter 23, the loss of WIJ acid product in the culture circulation system is expressed by the following equation (2).

Generation of fermentation products! =Jd-8-k...(1)m
Amount of fermentation product runoff = Cr - Qp (2 However, in the formulas of above 2 (1) and (2), Jd: interval 111
Substrate flux C9/cd− that concentration diffuses through 14
sea), S: surface area of septum 1114 (cd), N: constant, CF: fermentation product concentration of culture solution [g/c#+3], Qp
:! Permeate flow fjk Crys3/se of II filter 23
a).

At steady state, the generation of fermentation products within the circulatory system of the culture medium■
and the amount lost are equal. Therefore, the fermentation product concentration (CF
) is expressed by the following formula (3). That is, by controlling the permeate flow rate (Q) of the filter 23, the fermentation product concentration (CF
), thereby making it possible to maintain the concentration of fermentation products in the circulation system of the culture solution below the metabolically inhibiting concentration, thereby significantly improving productivity.

CF-(Jd-8-k)/QP...(3) Also,
In the circulation system of the culture solution, a part of the fermentation product is transferred to the membrane reactor 11. The concentration is diffused into the raw material liquid chamber 13 through 14,
After being transferred to the raw material liquid circulation system and mixed, it is supplied to the mixer 19 through the on-off valve 20. Therefore, in the raw material liquid circulation system as well, the concentration (CM) of the fermentation product of the raw material liquid is balanced as shown by the following equation (4).

CM-(Jd-8-k)/QP (4) According to this embodiment described above, various effects listed below can be achieved.

■The concentration of #1 fermentation product produced by fermentation bacteria can be controlled.

(2) Outflow of S yeast can be prevented by the filter 23.

(2) The above (2) makes it easy to determine the concentration of fermenting bacteria in the culture solution.

(2) The above (2) and (2) enable continuous S fermentation and maintain the fermentation product concentration below the metabolic inhibition concentration, thereby improving the productivity of the fermentation product and, by extension, the productivity of the WJW1 food.

■As it is a sterile and closed system, it is possible to prevent the contamination of various bacteria and the unexpected progression of fermentation reactions, making it possible to obtain high-quality fermented foods.

■Since the raw material liquid is circulated, a stirrer is not required.

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an 11g fermentation apparatus that can shorten the acclimatization period, prevent metabolic inhibition, maintain high productivity, and prevent contamination with various bacteria. .

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a fermentation apparatus in an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a conventional fermentation apparatus, and FIG. 3 is a characteristic diagram in a batch experiment of fermentation reaction. 11... Membrane reactor, 12... Culture solution chamber, 13...
- Raw material liquid chamber, 14...diaphragm, 16...culture solution L17
a to 17d...pump, 18...raw material tank, 19...
・Mixer, 20... Regulating valve, 22... Sterile water tank, 2
3...filter.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A membrane reactor whose interior is divided into a culture solution chamber and a raw material solution chamber by a diaphragm, a culture tank in which a culture solution containing fermentation bacteria is circulated between the culture solution chamber of this reactor, and the reactor. a raw material tank in which raw material liquid is circulated between the raw material liquid chamber, a sterile water tank that supplies sterile water to the culture tank, and a sterile water tank that is connected to the culture tank and separates the culture liquid in the culture tank for fermentation. A fermentation device characterized by comprising a filter for returning bacteria to a culture tank and supplying a fermentation product to a production system.