An aseptically operatable static solid state bioreactor consisting of two units

A novel, aseptic 100 l packed bed bioreactor consisting of two vessels was developed and tested. One vessel was used for substrate sterilization and the other for cultivation. The sterilized medium was transported by vibration to the cultivation vessel. Even distribution of the inoculum throughout the substrate was achieved by spraying the inoculum on the medium during its transport to the cultivation vessel. Two different mycelial microorganisms were cultivated in the bioreactor: the fungus Phlebiopsis gigantea and the bacterium Streptomyces sp. K61 which are used commercially as biofungicides. The bioreactor was easy to use and the temperature was maintained at an acceptable level. The final spore concentrations obtained in the cultivations were 3.6 × 106 cfu/g for P. gigantea and 4.5 × 109 cfu/g for Streptomyces sp. in the dried media.