PHYSIOLOGICAL STUDIES ON ASPERGILLUS NIGER FERMENTATION WITH POLYMER ADDITIVE

Abstract

When a water-soluble polymer ("Carbopol") was added to the growth medium of Aspergillus niger, significant enhancement in the rates of cellular growth and amylase production were observed. The role of the polymer additive in the system was not due to its utilization as a source of energy, neither to removal of toxic metabolic byproduct. Furthermore, it did not alter the respiratory quotient nor did it affect the overall enzyme system for respiration. Gross morphological changes from discrete pellets to filamentous growth was the only accountable parameter for yield enhancement.