RESUMO
The fungus Penicillium chrysogenum IFO-8644 was grown in a new type of ceramic membrane bioreactor operating with synthetic and complex germination medium at 27§C and pH7.0, using membranes with average pore diameters of 2.28 mm and effective area of 26.5 cm². Tests with different age inocula, an important factor in the development of the microorganisms, were performed. The best results were obtained using fresh inocula. Another extremely important factor to be considered in the desing of the bioreactor was the available membrane area for the growth of the fungus. As to the metabolism, sucrose was confirmed as the best source of carbon and energy since glucose had a repressive effect on the antibiotic production. A mathematical model, based on Monod growth kinetics for cell inhibition, enabled a reliable representation of the behavior of the bioreactor. Analysis of the experimental and simulated results showed that the bioprecess is viable in the novel bioreactor and that this bioreactor presents very promising potentials for large scale use.