Simulation of secondary metabolite production by immobilized living cells: penicillin production.

The production of secondary metabolites by immobilized living microorganisms was investigated by simulation techniques. The behavior of free cell and immobilized cell reactors for the production of penicillin by P. chrysogenum was compared. This system was chosen as a model system because literature data on growth and production kinetics are available. Simulation results for bioreactors containing P. chrysogenum immobilized by adsorptive techniques demonstrates a potential advantage in productivity for such reactors over conventional fed batch operation. Realization of this advantage requires an understanding of growth and product formation kinetics for immobilized cells as well as development of immobilization technology that will provide stable, high cell loadings.