A new method to quantify the CO 2 sensitivity of micro-organisms in shaken bioreactors and scale up to stirred tank fermentors

TL;DRAbstract

Small scale shaken bioreactors (e.g. shake flasks) traditionally equipped with different types of sterile closures are very useful tools in biotechnology. The gas transfer coefficient of the sterile closures (kplug) plays an important role in aeration of shaken bioreactors. The value of kplug depends on the average diffusion coefficient of oxygen (DeO2) and different lengths or/and diameters of the neck of flask. Therefore, in this study, a series of pipes with different lengths or/and diameters filled with cotton for a special shake flask, so-called ventilation flask, were employed. The gas transfer through the sterile closure of the ventilation flasks was characterized. Constant values of CO2 and O2 diffusion coefficient were found in all of the ventilation flasks. Considering these values and the neck geometry, a variety of kplug in ventilation flasks were obtained. Since, decreasing kplug causes a reduction of O2 concentration and an accumulation of CO2 in the gas phase of the shak

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