High performance fermentation process using methanol utilizing acidophilic bacteria

Using a methanol utilizing acidophilic MB 58 bacteria strain (IMET 10945T), a stable fermentation process was performed in a pilot plant pressure fermenter of 250 l total volume for more than four months. Under the fermentation conditions (system pressure and retention time) used, productivities ranged between 2.3 and 9.4 BDM kg−1. h−1 and growth yields between 0.31 and 0.42. Models describe the correlations between yield and retention time. The mean value of growth yield amounts to 0.41 at a retention time of 6.5 h.