Fermentation method and apparatus
AssigneePhillips Petroleum Company
InventorThomas R. Hopkins
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process for the production of microbial cells by fermentation of carbonaceous material in a foam fermenter containing an oxygen-enriched nutrient medium. The process uses a source of carbon which is assimilable by the microorganism for the production of the microbial cells. The microbial cells are separated and removed from the foam fermenter for use as a food product high in protein content. The process includes the controlled release of a quantity of the constituents of a portion of the microorganism within the fermenter to increase the maintenance of the source of carbon and the nutrient medium in a foamed condition at a predetermined level in the fermenter. Also disclosed are various forms of apparatus for practicing the process of the present invention.
Claims18
A process for the production of microbial cells, said process including the steps of:
- placing a microorganism into a fermentor containing a nutrient medium and aerobically culturing said microorganism, said microorganism being capable of assimulating a carbonaceous material as a main source of carbon;
- introducing a carbonaceous material into said fermentor as the main carbon source for said microorganism to assimilate and produce microbial cells;
- maintaining said carbonaceous material and said medium in a foamed condition in said fermentor so that said fermentor is essentially foam-filled;
- causing the release of a quantity of the constituents of a portion of said microbial cells within the fermentor to sustain said carbonaceous material and said medium in said foamed condition at predetermined level;
- and
- separating and recovering the microbial cells produced in said fermentor.
A process for the production of microbial cells, said process comprising the steps of:
- placing a microorganism in a fermentor, said microorganism being capable of assimilating a straight chain alcohol having from 1 to 16 carbon atoms per molecule as a main source of carbon;
- continuously introducing a nutrient medium into said fermentor at a controlled rate;
- introducing oxygen into said fermentor continuously at a controlled rate for aerobically fermenting said alcohol;
- continuously introducing a straight chain alcohol having from 1 to 16 carbon atoms per molecule into said fermentor at a controlled rate for said microorganism to assimilate as the carbon source and produce microbial cells;
- maintaining said fermentor during operation at a pressure of at least about 1 atmosphere;
- maintaining said alcohol and said nutrient medium in a foamed condition in said fermentor so that said fermentor is essentially foam-filled;
- releasing a quantity of the constituents of a portion of the microbial cells within the fermentor to sustain said alcohol and nutrient medium in said foamed condition in said fermentor so that said fermentor is essentially foam-filled;
- and
- continuously separating and recovering microbial cells produced in said fermentor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.