Comparison between batch and fed-batch production of rhamnolipid by Pseudomonas aeruginosa

ABSTRACT

This paper presents a comparison between batch and three different sets of fed batch fermentations for rhamnolipid production by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The batch run was performed with 500 ml of culture medium having the initial glycerol and sodium nitrate concentrations of 30 and 8.3 g/l, respectively. For a fed batch run with nitrogen source in feed, 250 ml of the nitrogen excluded culture medium was in the bioreactor initially, and 250 ml culture medium containing 16.6 g/l sodium nitrate was fed to the bioreactor continuously. A similar procedure was repeated for fed batch runs with carbon, and phosphorus source in feed. Statistical analysis showed that fed batch runs were better than batch in term of rhamnolipid production, and among the fed batch runs the maximum amount of rhamnolipid. [4.12 g Rhamnose Equivalent/l] was for the fed batch run with the carbon source in feed