Implementation Details of Computerized Temporary Immersion Bioreactor (TIB): A Fermentation Case ofPleurotos Pulmonarius

Abstract

Temporary immersion culture systems are emerging as alternative methods with advantages of culture in submerged medium, without the disadvantages of liquid environment. This paper details the implementation of computerized Temporary Immersion Bioreactor (TIB) from locally available resources. The hardware system was made up of the glass vessel unit, the oil-less air compressor, the valves and relays board which communicates with the control computer using RS232. The control software was developed using PHP and MySQL database structure. It offered the flexibility to run six TIBs simultaneously at different immersion frequencies. This system was used to culture Pleurotus pulmonarius at immersion frequencies of 1, 3 and 6 hours, thus high, medium and low immersion frequencies, respectively, for 8 days. The system frequently and timely controlled the states of organisms as immersed, aerated and drained according to the defined control strategy. Furthermore, downstream observations of the culture rheology revealed the culture broth being more turbid, turbid and less turbid with TIB operated at high, medium and low immersion frequency, respectively. In addition to the possibility of implementing a low-cost fully automated Temporary Immersion Bioreactors, these systems can be used to boost the range of metabolites of microorganisms considering the versatility of metabolic fluxes, by attempting various immersion frequencies.