This work aimed to analyze the kinetics of S. boulardii growth in an air lift fermentor under two aeration conditions: 1 and 1.5 air vvm (air volume per volume of culture medium per minute), in comparison with growth in shaken flasks, with a view to the future application of this fermenter on an industrial scale. Air lift fermentors offer advantages such as efficient homogenization of the components, low shear stress, and energy savings because the medium is stirred by aeration and does not require mechanical stirring. The pH of the medium decreased with the glucose uptake during the exponential phase, probably due to the formation of secondary metabolites. The entire process showed a similar specific growth rate during the exponential phase (up to 5 hours in the case of the shaker and 6 hours in that of the air-lift fermentor), indicating a possible change in the carbon source, since all the glucose was depleted after the aforementioned periods. After 6 hours, the growth rates in the shaker and the fermentor were similar under 1.0 vvm, but lower than in the fermentor under 1.5 vvm, suggesting that the fermentor may reach a higher cell production rate depending only on the oxygenation efficiency.
S. boulardii; fermentation; air-lift fermentor; shaker
