Equipment for cultivation of fastidious micro-organisms

Equipment has been developed in which fermentation processes for fastidious, pathogenic micro‐organisms can be operated on a pilot‐plant scale. Experience has shown the need for the development of concepts, techniques, and equipment meeting more stringent requirements than those ordinarily encountered in the fermentation industry. A system has been developed for the preparation of pure cultures which may be used either for the development of processes or in the preparation of substantial quantities of pure cultures. The equipment includes specially designed valves, fermentors, piping arrangement, and requires special methods of operation in order to maintain pure cultures during growth of the organism. The number of cultures of pathogenic, fastidious micro‐organisms contaminated in the systems commonly used in industry is materially greater than the number of contaminated cultures produced in the system described.