L'air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'etude Et L'exploitation Des

Eurozyme S.a.

Michel Cabau

Jean Amen

This invention relates to the production of the microorganisms. The operation is conducted in two stages. The first stage is conducted in the absence of ultrafiltration while the pH of the growth medium is maintained within the range of 6-7 by the addition of a neutralizing agent. Nutrient substratum and dilution water are added during the first stage to maintain the growth rate at a constant level, and the volume of growth medium is permitted to increase. When the amount of growth inhibiting agent produced in the fermentation reaches a predetermined maximum level, the second stage is initiated and the growth rate is maintained in a range of 0.10 to 0.50/hr, which is less than the growth rate in the first stage. By increasing the amount of dilution water the concentration of the growth inhibiting agent is maintained so as to achieve the desired moderate growth rate. The growth inhibiting agent is also continuously removed from the growth medium during the second stage and the volume of the growth medium is maintained substantially constant. The invention may be applied to the production of lactic bacteria, in particular for example in the cheese and wine making industries.

Production of microorganisms

The process for preparing concentrated amounts of lyophilized micro-organisms employs an ultrafiltration with a supply of nutritive substrates and the supply of a neutralizing agent in the fermenter, and further comprises the following steps:

Growing community of inventors

Coublevie Vioron, France

Michel Cabau