(505a) BioProcess Intensification in the Production of Starch-Degrading Enzyme α -Amylase

In this study we report the development of a novel microbioreactor which is able to promote the viability, proliferation, differentiation of organisms and enhance productivity by ca. 10 fold compared with the existing techniques. In this study we use Bacillus subtilis for the production of α -amylase. Initially, materials for the microbioreactor were developed and their efficiency in the production of α -amylase was determined. The influence of the medium composition on the α -amylase productivity of immobilized cells was also evaluated. The microbioreactor was then connected to the medium reservoir that continuously aerated and under controlled temperature of 37 degree Celsius. After 24h cultivation in continuous culture, the immobilized dormant morphological forms, B.subtilis spores were germinated and produced a desired enzyme known as α-amylase. Morphology and distribution of B.subtilis cells in the reactor were evaluated using Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy as well as Transmission Electron Microscopy. The productivity was evaluated as a function of microbioreactor properties and compared with the existing technology. We conclude that the microbioreactors developed in this study promote the viability, proliferation, differentiation of the cells as well as metabolic activity. Detailed results will be presented.