Glutamic acid and by-product synthesis by immobilized cells of the bacterium Corynebacterium glutamicum

The time course for the synthesis of glutamic acid and by-products from glucose was investigated using immobilized cell reactor of the bacterium C. glutamicum. Lactic acid, succinic acid, alanine acid and aspartic acid were formed early in the fermentation and during the active growth phase, whereas gluconic acid, alpha -ketoglutaric acid and proline were produced late and during the active phase of glutamic acid synthesis. Oxygen transfer rate in fermentation broth had a pronounced effect on the nature and quantities of fermentation products. In continuous fermentation and at OTR of 102.5 mMO sub(2)/l.h., formation of by-products greatly decreased and up to 58.5 g/l of glutamic acid were produced with a conversion efficiency of 74.6% of the theoretical value and volumetric productivity of 6.2 g/l.h.