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Upstream Processes

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Microbial Biomass Process Technologies and Management

Abstract

Upstream processing has three important aspects: the fermentation media, the producer microorganism, and the fermentation process.

Optimization of the fermentation media is a vital aspect of process development and essential in ensuring maximization of yield and profit. Selection of suitable cost-effective carbon and energy sources and other essential nutrients is crucial.

Aspects associated with the producer microorganism include the strategy for initially obtaining a suitable microorganism, industrial strain improvement to enhance productivity and yield, maintenance of strain purity, preparation of suitable inoculum, and continuing development of selected strains to increase the economic efficiency of the process. Also important is selection of a microbial strain characterized by the ability to synthesize a specific product having a desired commercial value. This strain is then subjected to improvement protocols to maximize the ability of the strain to synthesize economical amounts of the product.

Fermentation is usually performed under rigorously controlled conditions optimized for growth of the microorganism or production of a target microbial product.

It is usually carried out in large tanks known as fermenters or bioreactors. In addition to the mechanical parts, which provide aeration, cooling, agitation, etc., tanks are usually also equipped with complex sets of monitors and control devices that maintain optimal conditions for microbial growth and product synthesis. Processing of the fermentation reactions inside the fermenter can be carried out using various engineering technologies. One of the most commonly used fermenter types is the stirred-tank fermenter, which utilizes mechanical agitation (mainly using radial-flow impellers) during the fermentation process.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Amity Institute of Microbial Technology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Basanta Kumara Behera & Ajit Varma

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  1. Basanta Kumara Behera
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  2. Ajit Varma
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Kumara Behera, B., Varma, A. (2017). Upstream Processes. In: Microbial Biomass Process Technologies and Management. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-53913-3_2

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