Ajinomoto Co., Ltd.

Atsuo Shiraishi

Takashi Nakamura

Hiroki Kawashima

Tatsuya Nakayama

Toshiki Hirose

Koji Shimazaki

An apparatus and method for defoaming aerobic fermentation cultures is provided, where the amount of liquid culture medium used is greater than that in conventional aerobic cultures (70% or more of the total capacity of the culture tank) without lowering the productivity of the intended, desired product. In the present apparatus and method, a device for separating vapor from liquid of a foam is in fluid communication with the fermentation tank, a device for condensing residual liquid of the vapor received from the separating device is in fluid communication with the separating device, and a sensor for detecting foams is provided in a location along the fluid communication pathway. In the defoaming apparatus, an optional defoaming device is provided, which may be based on either a rotary body rotating at a high speed by use of an electric motor which beats the foams, or on a centrifugal atomizer. The defoaming device may be provided between the vapor-liquid separating device and the condensing device.

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Kawasaki, Japan

Atsuo Shiraishi