Carbon dioxide inhibition of yeast growth in biomass production.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae was grown under aerobic and substrate-limiting conditions for efficient biomass production. Under these conditions, where the sugar substrate was fed incrementally, the growth pattern of the yeast cells was found to be uniform, as indicated by a constant respiratory quotient during the entire growing period. The effect of carbon dioxide was investigated by replacing portions of the nitrogen in the air stream with carbon dioxide, while maintaining the oxygen content at the normal 20% level, so that identical oxygen transfer rate and atmospheric pressure were maintained for all experiments with different partial pressures of carbon dioxide. Inhibition of yeast growth was negligible below 20% CO2 in the aeration mixture. Slight inhibition was noted at the 40% CO2 level and significant inhibition was noted above the 50% CO2 level, corresponding to 1.6 X 10(-2)M of dissolved CO2 in the fermentor broth. High carbon dioxide content in the gas phase also inhibited the fermentation activity of baker's yeast.