Rhamnolipid production by Pseudomonas aeruginosa immobilised in polyvinyl alcohol beads.

A marine bacterium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa BYK-2 (KCTC 18012P), was immobilised by entrapment in 10% (w/v) polyvinyl alcohol beads and optimized for the continuous production of rhamnolipid. The relative activity of rhamnolipid production was maintained at 80 approximately 90% of the initial production during 15 cycles in a repeated batch culture. Continuous culture was performed in a 1.8 1 airlift bioreactor, yielding 0.1 g rhamnolipid h(-1) at a dilution rate of 0.0 18 h(-1), 25 degrees C, initial pH 7, and 0.5 vvm aeration rate with a 1.21 working volume.