Method of producing secondary metabolites

Abstract

A method of producing a secondary metabolites comprises providing a porous substratum which has a biofilm of micro-organism attached thereto, and causing a nutrient solution to flow through the substratum, at a rate which is sufficiently low for a nutrient gradient to be established across the biofilm, such that the nutrient concentration at a high level along the gradient is sufficiently high to support primary growth of the micro-organism, and the nutrient concentration at low level along the gradient being sufficiently low to induce secondary growth of the micro-organism, thereby to produce secondary metabolite. The substrate is in the form of a hollow fibre membrane having a relatively thin, porous skin on the inside, and a relatively thick, finger-like, externally unskinned void structure radiating outwardly from the skin.

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