PURPOSE: To carry out acetic fermentation more effectively than an existing method, and to prepare vinegar at high preparation rate, by doing acetic fermentation by the use of gel having immobilized acetic acid bacteria while airing in a fermentation tank of column type.
CONSTITUTION: The raw material solution 16 for acetic fermentation consisting of an aqueous solution having about 3W12wt% alcohol concentration and 1W 10wt% acetic acid concentration and the gel 15 having immobilized acetic acid bacteria are packed (10) into the fermentation tank 1 of column type. A gas containing O2 is fed (12) from the solenoid valve 11, and sent through the air pump 7 to the gas inlet 5. The gas is passed through the porous plate 4, made into the bubbles 14, the greater part of the bubbles produces a rising flow in the solution 16 and raises the gel 15 while rising through the draft tube 3. After the bubbles 14 themselves rise to the liquid level 6, the greater part of the bubbles is recovered by the anti-foaming tank 2. Meanwhile, the solution 16 and the gel 15 having reached the top of the tube 3 are directly dropped through the space between the outside of the tube 3 and the wide wall depending upon their weights. After the fermentation is over, the fermented solution as vinegar is taken out from the outlet 8 of the fermented solution.
UMEMOTO KAZUO
MORI AKIHIKO
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