Abstract
In the Xanthan gum fermentation by Xanthomonas campestris there are problems of the large energy consumption by long fermentation time, the mass transfer of oxygen and nutrients by high viscous fermentation broth. In this study, the media optimization and the fed batch fermentation were carried out to decrease fermentation time and increase Xanthan gum yield. The $O_2$ uptake rate (OUR) and $CO_2$ evolution rate(CER) which were obtained from the analysis of fermentation exit gas using a gas chromatograph were investigated. As a result, the fermentation time decreased at optimal assimilable nitrogen concentration but increased at poor or rich assimilable nitrogen concentration, the Xanthan gum biosynthesis was stimulated under the limited condition of assimilable nitrogen source and the optimum fermentation medium was obtained as follow; Glucose=30g / l, Peptone=8.0g / l, $K_2HPO_4=2.0g/l$, $MgS0_47H_2O=10g/l$, Sodium acetate=20g/l, Sodium pyruvate=0.5g/1. As the agitation speed and nitrogen concentration increased, the $O_2$ uptake rate and $CO_2$ evolution rate increased. The OUR and CER were 37.3mmol $O_2/\;l$ hr and 20.2 mmol $CO_2/\;L$ hr at peptone 11g / l and agitation speed 990RPM, respectively. In fed batch fermentation, the final concentration of Xanthan gum was enhanced up to 29g / l.