Continuous fermentation process

US3940492A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• ALFA LAVAL CORPORATE AB · SE

Inventor

• Lars Ehnstrom · Tullinge, SE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 25, 1974
• Grant date: Feb 24, 1976
• Expiry date: Jun 25, 1994

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S435/813
• WIPO field: Biotechnology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Wort is continuously supplied to a circuit including an elongated closed channel and through which micro-organisms are fed. After fermentation has taken place in the circuit, the mixture of wort and micro-organisms is centrifuged to separate it into fermented wort, a living cell mass and impurities, these three components being separately discharged from the centrifuge. The separate discharges of fermented wort and living cell mass are continuous, and the latter discharge includes an excess of living cells formed in the circuit, an amount of cell mass corresponding to this excess being discharged from the circuit.