Optimization and scale-up studies for red pigment production by Monascus purpureus M1018 in stirred-tank biofactors

Date

6-2016

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering

College

College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology (CEAT)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Catalino G. Alfafara

Abstract

The effects of aeration rate and agitation speed for the production of red pigment by submerged fermentation of Monascus purpureus M1018 were determined in a 5 L stirred tank bioreactor. Optimization was done via Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to get the optimum aeration/agitation conditions. The results were used to scale-up the process to 30 L bioreactor via volumetric oxygen mass transfer coefficient (kLa) as the scale-up factor. Results of the RSM experiments in 5 L bioreactor showed that lower agitation and higher aeration favored higher biomass concentration. However, higher red pigment concentration was favored by higher agitation and lower to medium aeration rates. High shear forces damaged the mycelial structure of the biomass that caused leakage of the red pigment, thus, increasing red pigment concentration into the medium. The experimentally verified optimum solution that maximized both cell and red pigment concentrations while minimizing the residual glucose concentration were 1.31 vvm aeration and 245 rpm agitation. The kLa under optimum aeration/agitation conditions were 6.20 x 10^-3 s^-1. This was used as a scale-up factor to determine equivalent aeration/agitation conditions in a 30 L bioreactor (1.31 vvm, 188 rpm). Using both statistical and biochemical engineering approaches, the optimum fermentation conditions of the 5 L bioreactor (9.62 UA500 red pigment) was successfully reproduced in the 30 L bioreactor (9.27 UA500 red pigment).

Language

English

Location

UPLB College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology (CEAT)

Call Number

LG 993.5 2016 E62 /F73

Document Type

Thesis

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