Production of natural colorants by submerged cultivation of Talaromyces amestolkiae in agitated tank bioreactor by varying partial oxygen pressure and impeller type

Abstract

The advances in research and the pursuit of healthier lifestyles, the natural colorant market has grown worldwide. In this context, filamentous fungi are microorganisms with great potential for the production of these bioproducts, and may highlight Penicillium and Talaromyces strains. The production of natural colorants by biotechnological processes has some advantages, among them the fact that it does not depend on seasonal offerings, such as colorants extracted from plants. These fungi naturally synthesize and secrete dyes as secondary metabolites, known as polyketides, which can be applied in various industrial areas. Considering the increasing demand in this market and the rapid development of biotechnological products, bioprocesses need to perform well not only on laboratory scales but also on production scales. As an alternative to scale up, bioreactors appear, the most commonly used being the agitated tank. The use of conventional bioreactors requires care in the choice of impeller type and operating conditions such as pH, temperature, oxygen transfer, among others, for the optimization and maximum production of the product of interest. Thus, the present project aims to evaluate the production of natural dyes by submerged cultivation of Talaromyces amestolkiae in agitated tank bioreactor, varying the partial oxygen pressure (pO2) by 30, 50 and 70% and the impeller type (Rushton and Elephant Ear).