Productivity enhancement in l-sorbose fermentation using oxygen vector

Sorbose, an intermediate of Vitamin-C is produced by biological oxidation of sorbitol by Acetobacter suboxydans. The utility of oxygen vector (N-hexadecane) in enhancing the sorbose accumulation and its productivity was examined for sorbitol to sorbose bioconversion process. Shake flask fermentations were conducted using 1% to 6% (v/v) N-hexadecane. Higher sorbose production was observed in shake flask containing 1–4% N-hexadecane as compared to shake flasks without N-hexadecane. A maximum of 82.12 kgm−3 sorbose accumulated in 24 h by the addition of 4% N-hexadecane as against 64.83 kgm−3 sorbose without the addition of N-hexadecane. However, the concentration of sorbose produced in the same time decreased when 5% and 6% N-hexadecane were used. Batch sorbose fermentation conducted using 4% N-hexadecane demonstrated decrease in the process time from 14 h to 12 h. The productivity increased from 14.3 kgm−3 h−1 to 16.7 kgm−3 h−1 when 4% N-hexadecane was used. Fed-batch fermentation using 4% N-hexadecane was over in 20 h with a productivity of 15.9 kgm−3 h−1, and a sorbose accumulation of 311.68 kgm−3 was obtained. The same fed-batch fermentation finished in 25 h when no N-hexadecane was used. A productivity of 12.6 kgm−3 h−1 and a final sorbose accumulation of 316 kgm−3 were obtained. The increase in productivity and lower process time were achieved by the addition of N-hexadecane to the fermentation medium.