New concepts for rapid yeast settling. II. pH switching with an inert powder [Saccharomyces cerevisiae]

A new technique is outlined for the rapid settling of yeast cells in fermentation media. The technique involved the addition of dense, inert particles (nickel powder) to a yeast suspension (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) at pH 4.5 and a rapid change of pH to 8.0–9.0. When the pH was changed large flocs formed immediately and settled rapidly, leaving a clear supernatant. On returning the pH to 4.5 the flocs were destroyed. This technique gave larger flocs and higher settling rates than the constant pH method, and much lower nickel/yeast ratios were required. Good flocculation also occurred in a fermentation medium. The technique was used to recycle yeast cells to a semicontinuous ethanol fermentation. Application of the technique to this and similar systems is discussed. The factors affecting yeast/inert powder flocculation are also discussed and a model is proposed to explain the observed experimental behavior for flocculation with a rapid change in pH.