• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.8
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• pp.1251-1258
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• 2010

During the nitrogen-fixing process, ammonia ($NH_3$) is incorporated into glutamate to yield glutamine and is generally not secreted. However, in this study, $NH_3$-excreting strains of nitrogen-fixing Paenibacillus were isolated from soil. The ammonium production by the Paenibacillus strains was assayed in different experiments (dry biomass, wet biomass, cell-free extract, and cell-free extract adsorbed on nano $TiO_2$ particles) inside an innovative bioreactor containing capsules of $N_2$ and $H_2$. In addition, the effects of different $N_2$ and $H_2$ treatments on the formation of $NH_3$ were assayed. The results showed that the dry biomass of the strains produced the most $NH_3$. The dry biomass of the Paenibacillus strain E produced the most $NH_3$ at 1.50, 0.34, and 0.27 ${\mu}M$ $NH_3$/mg biomass/h in the presence of $N_2$ + $H_2$, $N_2$, and $H_2$, respectively, indicating that a combined effluent of $N_2$ and $H_2$ was vital for $NH_3$ production. Notwithstanding, a cell-free extract (CFE) adsorbed on nano $TiO_2$ particles produced the most $NH_3$ and preserved the enzyme activities for a longer period of time, where the $NH_3$ production was 2.45 ${\mu}M$/mg CFE/h over 17 h. Therefore, the present study provides a new, simple, and inexpensive method of $NH_3$ production.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.10-15
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• 2002

Environmental and medium factors were investigated as basic data for optimizing DHA production when using Thraustochytrium aureum. To study the effect of environmental conditions, the rotation speed and culture temperature were changed. Plus the trend of the growth characteristics, lipid content in the biomass, and DHA content in lipids were evaluated according to various initial glucose concentrations. The biomass, lipid, and DHA analyses showed that the physiological characteristics of T. aureum were closely related with the environmental and medium conditions, as in the case of other marine microorganisms. For example, a low rotation speed of 50 rpm lowered the cell growth rate as well as the DHA content in the lipids. A low temperature had a negative effect on the cell growth, yet a positive effect on the lipid content in the biomass. Different initial glucose concentrations had no effect on the lipid content in the biomass or DHA content in the lipids, yet did affect the cell growth. Accordingly, these results show that environmental and medium factors must be synthetically considered in order to optimize DHA production when using T. aureum.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.630-637
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• 2018

The high rate algal ponds (HRAP) powered and mixed by a paddlewheel have been widely used for over 50 years to culture microalgae for the production of various products. Since light incidence is limited to the surface, water depth can affect microalgal growth in HRAP. To investigate the effect of water depth on microalgal growth, a mixed microalgal culture constituting three major strains of microalgae including Chlorella sp., Scenedesmus sp., and Stigeoclonium sp. (CSS), was grown at different water depths (20, 30, and 40 cm) in the HRAP, respectively. The HRAP with 20cm of water depth had about 38% higher biomass productivity per unit area ($6.16{\pm}0.33g{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}d^{-1}$) and required lower nutrients and energy consumption than the other water depths. Specifically, the algal biomass of HRAP under 20cm of water depth had higher settleability through larger floc size (83.6% settleability within 5 min). These results indicate that water depth can affect the harvesting process as well as cultivation of microalgae. Therefore, we conclude that water depth is an important parameter in HRAP design for mass cultivation of microalgae.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.199-206
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• 2012

Naturally immobilized tannase (tannin acyl hydrolase, E.C. 3.1.1.20) has many advantages, as it avoids the expensive and laborious operation of isolation, purification, and immobilization, plus it is highly stable in adverse pH and temperature. However, in the case of cell-associated enzymes, since the enzyme is associated with the biomass, separation of the pure biomass is necessary. However, tannic acid, a known inducer of tannase, forms insoluble complexes with media proteins, making it difficult to separate pure biomass. Therefore, this study optimizes the production of cell-associated tannase using a "protein-tannin complex" free media. An exploratory study was first conducted in shake-flasks to select the inducer, carbon source, and nitrogen sources. As a result it was found that gallic acid induces tannase synthesis, a tryptose broth gives higher biomass, and lactose supplementation is beneficial. The medium was then optimized using response surface methodology based on the full factorial central composite design in a 3 l bioreactor. A $2^3$ factorial design augmented by 7 axial points (${\alpha}$ = 1.682) and 2 replicates at the center point was implemented in 17 experiments. A mathematical model was also developed to show the effect of each medium component and their interactions on the production of cell-associated tannase. The validity of the proposed model was verified, and the optimized medium was shown to produce maximum cell-associated tannase activity of 9.65 U/l, which is 93.8% higher than the activity in the basal medium, after 12 h at pH 5.0, $30^{\circ}C$. The optimum medium consists of 38 g/l lactose, 50 g/l tryptose, and 2.8 g/l gallic acid.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.1434-1443
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• 2019

Although chemical oxygen demand (COD) is an important issue for wastewater treatment, COD reduction with microalgae has been less studied compared to nitrogen or phosphorus removal. COD removal is not efficient in conventional wastewater treatment using microalgae, because the algae release organic compounds, thereby finally increasing the COD level. This study focused on enhancing COD removal and meeting the effluent standard for discharge by optimizing sludge inoculation timing, which was an important factor in forming a desirable algae/bacteria consortium for more efficient COD removal and higher biomass productivity. Activated sludge has been added to reduce COD in many studies, but its inoculation was done at the start of cultivation. However, when the sludge was added after 3 days of cultivation, at which point the COD concentration started to increase again, the algal growth and biomass productivity were higher than those of the initial sludge inoculation and control (without sludge). Algal and bacterial cell numbers measured by qPCR were also higher with sludge inoculation at 3 days later. In a semi-continuous cultivation system, a hydraulic retention time of 5 days with sludge inoculation resulted in the highest biomass productivity and N/P removal. This study achieved a further improved COD removal than the conventional microalgal wastewater treatment, by introducing bacteria in activated sludge at optimized timing.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.39 no.3 s.117
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• pp.378-389
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• 2006

Seasonal changes of biomass and cell size of bacteria and protozoa, and factors affecting their distribution in Lake Paldang and Kyungan Stream were analyzed from April to December, 2005. Bacterial abundance at Paldang Dam and Kyungan Stream was similar, but it did not much increase during hot summer period. Protozoan carbon biomass was much greater at Kyungan Stream compared to Paldang Dam. HNAN generally accounted for the majority of total protozoan biomass, but ciliates made up the highest proportion in April and November at Paldang Dam and June at both sites. PNAN showed low biomass at both sites, but it was high during spring and fall season. Small-sized HNAN ($3{\sim}7\;{\mu}m$) numerically predominated the protozoan community at both sites. Average cell size of HNAN was bigger at Kyungan Stream where nutrients concentration was much higher than Paldang Dam. Average cell size of ciliates varied seasonally; it was relatively small during the summer. HNAN biomass significantly correlated with Chl-a concentration and ciliates biomass at Paldang Dam, indicating that HNAN increase might link to the ciliates increase. At Kyungan Stream, HNAN biomass showed a significant relationship with PNAN biomass, and Chl-a concentration was closely related with both of HNAN and PNAN biomass. Ciliate biomass showed significant relationship with nutrient (TN, TP) and particulate matter (SS) only at Kyungan Stream. At both sites, protozoan biomass was significantly correlated with bacterial biomass, and ciliates were additionally related flagellates. High biomass of microbial components and the close relationships among them suggest that the energy transfer through the microbial loop may important in the plankton food web of Lake Paldang ecosystem.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.209-212
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• 1985

The cell density and packing characteristics of Escherichia coli immobilized in a dual hollow fiber bioreactor consisting of outer silicone membrane for oxygen transport and three inner isotropic polypropylene hollow fibers for substrate transport were investigated. The cells have grown forming the layer like animal tissue in a nearly 100％ packing density. The dry biomass density was 550g/liter of void volume for cell growth, which was the highest among the biomass densities ever reported.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.284-288
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• 2005

Baker's yeast was disrupted in a 1.4-L stainless steel horizontal bead mill under a continuous recycle mode using 0.3 mm diameter zirconia beads as abrasive. A single pass in continuous mode bead mill operation liberates half of the maximally released protein. The maximum total protein release can only be achieved after passaging the cells 5 times through the disruption chamber. The degree of cell disruption was increased with the increase in feeding rate, but the total protein release was highest at the middle range of feeding rate (45 L/h). The total protein release was increased with an increase in biomass concentration from 10 to $50\%$(w/v). However, higher heat dissipation as a result of high viscosity of concentrated biomass led to the denaturation of labile protein such as glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH). As a result the highest specific activity of G6PDH was achieved at biomass concentration of $20\%$(ww/v). Generally, the degree of cell disruption and total protein released were increased with an increase in impeller tip speed, but the specific activity of G6PDH was decreased substantially at higher impeller tip speed (14 m/s). Both the degree of cell disruption and total protein release increased, as the bead loading increased from 75 to $85\% (v/v)$. Hence, in order to obtain a higher yield of labile protein such as G6PDH, the yeast cell should not be disrupted at biomass concentration and impeller tip speed higher than $20\%(w/v)$ and 10 m/s, respectively.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.273-286
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• 2004

The effects of environmental forcing on autotrophic picoplankton distributional patterns were investigated for convergence ($5^{\circ}N$), divergence ($9^{\circ}N-10^{\circ}30'N$) and oligotrophic ($17^{\circ}N$) sites in the tropical eastern Pacific during 2001 and 2003 KODOS (Korea Deep Ocean Study) cruises. The distributions of picoplankton populations - Prochlorococcus, Synechococcus and picoeukaryotes algae - were determined by flow cytometric analyses. Latitudinal variations in abundance maxima, vertical profiles, integrated abundance (0-150 m), and estimated carbon biomass were contrasted for each site according to three hydrological conditions. Prochlorococcus showed consistently high abundance in the surface mixed layers of all sites at $1\;{\times}\;10^5{\sim}3\;{\times}\;10^5\;cells\;ml^{-1}$ and showed declining abundance below these layers. However, these decreasing rates were not particularly sharp showing considerably high abundance at $1\;{\times}\;10^4\;cells\;ml^{-1}$ or higher even at 100 m depth. Vertical profiles of Synechococcus and picoeukaryotes were generally parallel to each other in all sites. A clear abundance maximum was observed at divergence site at or slightly above the pycnocline depth. Higher abundance was observed at the surface mixed layer for convergence site but a sharp decrease was observed below the pycnocline. However, there was no significant abundance fluctuation with depth at more oligotrophic site ($17^{\circ}N$). Integrated cell abundance of Prochlorococcus was high in the oligotrophic site at $2.17\;{\times}\;10^{13}\;m^{-2}$, and low in the convergence site at $0.88\;{\times}\;10^{13}\;m^{-2}$. However, opposite pattern was observed for Synechococcus and picoeukaryotes where relatively high integrated cell abundance was shown in the convergence site. Estimated carbon biomass of Prochlorococcus contributed 30.4-80.3% of total autotrophic picoplankton carbon showing the highest contribution in the oligotrophic site and the lowest contribution in the convergence site. Synechococcus contribution of total autotrophic picoplantkon carbon biomass was lower than 5.8% for most of sites except the convergence site where Synechococcus contributed 23.2% of picoplankton carbon biomass. Carbon biomass of picoeukaryotes was 18.8-46.4% showing the highest carbon biomass at the convergence site. Overall, Prochlorococcus showed higher cell abundance and carbon biomass and exhibited different reaction to hydrological conditions when compare with the other two major autotrophic picoplankton groups.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.331-334
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• 2002

Culture conductivity and on-line NADH fluorescence were used to measure cellular growth in plant cell suspension cultures of Podophyllum hexandrum. An inverse correlation between dry cell weight and medium conductivity was observed during shake flask cultivation. A linear relationship between dry cell weight and culture NADH fluorescence was obtained during the exponential phase of batch cultivation In a bioreactor under the pH stat (pH 6) conditions. It was observed that conductivity measurement were suitable for biomass characterisation under highly dynamic uncontrolled shake flask cultivation conditions. However, if the acid/alkali feeding is done for pH control the conductivity measurement could not be applied. On the other hand the NADH fluorescence measurement allowed online-in situ biomass monitoring of rather heterogenous plant cell suspension cultures in bioreactor even under the most desirable pH stat conditions.