Citric acid production by immobilized Aspergillus niger in a fluidized bed reactor

Abstract

Citric acid production by immobilized ofdspergilh niger in a fluidized bed reactor was performed, evaluating the productivity and the stability of the process when pulsing device was used. The application of a pulsing flow to fluidized bed reactor and the feed nitrogen limited allow to control of bioparticles morphology avoiding bed compactation. When operated at optimum pulsation frequency (0.3 s-l) the stability of the bioreactor was maintained for more than 30 days, increasing the citric acid production in more than 52.2%.