CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION OF THIENAMYCIN IN IMMOBILIZED CELL SYSTEMS

A novel 2-L bubble column was used to study the continuous, immobilized cell production of thienamycin. Cells of Streptomyces cattleya were immobilized by culturing them in an appropriate growth medium containing 60/80 mesh celite particles. The dilution rate used during the continuous growth phase was 0. 2h** minus **1. This growth phase was terminated upon the development of heavy cell films (100-500 mu m thickness), and the medium was replaced with an appropriate thienamycin production medium. The system was then operated in a batch mode until thienamycin production began. At that time, continuous feeding of the production medium was initiated and the influence of medium composition and dilution rate on CO//2, NH//4, biomass, and thienamycin production investigated.