Fermentation processes continuous, very large

Single-Cell Protein. Systems involving single-cell proteins are often very large throughput, continuous processing operations such as the Pmteen process developed by ICI. These are ideal for air-lift bioreactors of which the pressure cycle fermenter is a special case (50). 

Under these circumstances, there is an incentive to develop a continuous, rather that batch operation for the process. Continuous operation is particularly attractive for very large-scale fermentations, and is often staged in several vessels rather than in a single large one. In this way, a high fermentation rate is obtained continuously in one or more of the vessels to give a more rapid overall rate of conversion of substrate to product. 

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