High‐yield growth of E. coli at different temperatures in a bench scale fermentor

E. coli wax grown exponentially at different temperatures in a bench scale fermentor. pH was maintained at 6.8 by ammonia which served also as the nitrogen source. Glucose was introduced semi‐continuously at a predetermined rate which ensured a glucose concentration of 25–50 g/liter during growth. The culture was sparged with pure oxygen. Yield constants for glucose, nitrogen, phosphorus, and oxygen were determined at the different temperatures of propagation. When all growth conditions, except temperature, were kept constant, the maximal possible yield of exponentially grown cell mass was found to be directly proportional to the doubling time. Concentrations of up to 55 g dry cells/liter culture were achieved.