Effective Immobilization of Agrobacterium sp. IFO 13140 Cells in Loofa Sponge for Curdlan Biosynthesis

Molecules. 2015 May 4;20(5):7957-73. doi: 10.3390/molecules20057957.

Abstract

Curdlan production by Agrobacterium sp. IFO13140 immobilized on loofa sponge, alginate and loofa sponge with alginate was investigated. There was no statistically-significant difference in curdlan production when the microorganism was immobilized in different matrices. The loofa sponge was chosen because of its practical application and economy and because it provides a high stability through its continued use. The best conditions for immobilization on loofa sponge were 50 mg of cell, 200 rpm and 72 h of incubation, which provided a curdlan production 1.50-times higher than that obtained by free cells. The higher volumetric productivity was achieved by immobilized cells (0.09 g/L/h) at 150 rpm. The operating stability was evaluated, and until the fourth cycle, immobilized cells retained 87.40% of the production of the first cycle. The immobilized cells remained active after 300 days of storage at 4 °C. The results of this study demonstrate success in immobilizing cells for curdlan biosynthesis, making the process potentially suitable for industrial scale-up. Additional studies may show a possible contribution to the reduction of operating costs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Agrobacterium / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Cells, Immobilized / metabolism*
  • Luffa / metabolism*
  • Luffa / microbiology*
  • Porifera / metabolism*
  • Temperature
  • beta-Glucans / metabolism*

Substances

  • beta-Glucans
  • curdlan