PURPOSE: To carry out organic acid fermentation in a short time efficiently, by feeding a medium containing nutrient to the outside surfaces of hollow fibers to which a mold of a bacterium capable of producing an organic acid is immobilized, sending air, etc. to the hollow parts of the hollow fibers.
CONSTITUTION: A mold of a bacterium (e.g., acetic acid bacteria belonging to the genus Acetobacter) capable of producing an organic acid such as acetic acid, etc. is immobilized to the surfaces of the hollow fibers 14 consisting of polypropylene, etc. by suction adsorption, a medium containing nutrient such as carbon source, etc. is fed from the medium storage tank 10 to the outside surfaces of the fibers 14, and air or pure oxygen is sent from the air pump 9 or oxygen bomb 16 to the hollow parts of the fibers 14, to carry out organic acid fermentation. When vinegar is prepared by this process, fermentation time is reduced than an existing stationary fermentation by about 1/5W1/6. Since the mold of acetic acid bacteria is immobilized to the hollow fibers, after the fermentation is over, only filtration and sterilization are carried out without requiring purification treatment to remove the mold.
YAMADA KOUKI
TSUKAMOTO YOSHINORI
NUKADA REIICHI
NAGAI SHIROU
NANBA AKIRA
