The effect of sodium chloride on the cell's growth and total extracellular protein production during fermentation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in an air-fluidized bed fermentation, with a 70 L/min air flow at 33° C and 99-100% relative unidity was studied. A semi-solid potato substrate (previously hydrolized) with 0.6M sodium chloride was used. Cell's growth was monitored by optical density at 595 nm. Results showed that the addition of 0.6M sodium chloride enhanced total extracellular protein level (36.86%). On the other hand, the addition of sodium chloride inhibited cell growth (27.62%), when mediums with and without sodium chloride were tested. The maximum yield of biomass was achieved at the 7 - 9th hour fermentation for experiments either with or without addition of sodium chloride, while maximum yield of total extracellular proteins was achieved at the 9 - 12th hour fermentation, in all runs. The maximum specific cell's growth rate averaged 0.350/h for the experiments where salt was added and 0.339/h for those without salt. Finally, it seemed that the length of the lag phase had not been affected by the combination of high air flow rate and the presence of 0.6M sodium chloride in the yeast growth curve in this air-fluidized bed fermentation of Saccharomyces cerevisae.
Air-fluidized bed fermentation; Saccharomyces cerevisae; extracellular protein
