Rotating drum fermentor for plant cell suspension cultures.

A rotating drum fermentor designed for plant cell suspension cultures was constructed and tested. The oxygen transfer coefficient (k(L)a) and power requirements in the fermentor were determined with the water system under various conditions and the relationship between them in the fermentor was clarified. Also, the relationship between k(L)a and the apparent viscosity in the fermentor was investigated in the cell suspension system. The rotating drum fermentor was found to be superior to the mechanically agitated fermentor in the capacity of oxygen supply under high viscosity and low hydrodynamic stress conditions. This finding was also confirmed by the experiments with plant cell suspension cultures.