PACKED-BED BIOREACTOR FOR SOLID-STATE FERMENTATION: BATCH AND PSEUDO-CONTINUOUS MODES OF OPERATION

In the current paper, are presented the results of endoglucanase activities obtained from a solid-state fermentation (SSF) packed-bed bioreactor (PBB) built in modules and operated in batch and in pseudo-continuous modes. The case study was the cultivation of the thermophilic fungus Myceliophthora thermophila I-1D3b using sugarcane bagasse and wheat bran as substrate. For batch operation, 4 fermentative modules were packed at the beginning of the cultivation and removed at the end of 4 days. In pseudo-continuous mode of operation, modules were added 1 per day up to 4 modules; when the first added module completed 4 days of residence in the column, it has been started the removal of one module per day, with reposition by a new module packed with fresh inoculated substrate. Bed height was kept constant and the movement of the modules were in descendent. Endoglucanase activities were more homogeneous in the pseudo-continuous mode of operation and thermal control was favored as well. Furthermore, dead-time was reduced.