Microbial growth study of advanced foam control agents (FCAs) for fermentation process

Abstract

Foam generation is a common occurrence in industrial processes involving liquids, gases, surfactants under agitation. In fermentation, uncontrolled foaming poses significant challenges, including broth loss, microbial contamination, and reduced product yields. Foam control agents (FCAs) are commonly employed to mitigate these issues without adversely affecting microbial viability. However, the performance of FCAs is highly sensitive to both manufacturing and application conditions, necessitating evaluation methods that closely replicate real-world fermentation environments. In this study, a commercial fermentation broth was used as the foaming medium, with continuous airflow applied using FOAMSCAN^TM equipment to simulate industrial conditions. The foam suppression efficiency and microbial compatibility of various polyglycol based FCAs—differing in molecular shape, cloud point, surface tension, viscosity, and specific gravity—were systematically investigated. Predictive models were developed to accurately estimate foam volume and microbial growth, offering valuable insights into the performance and biological safety of FCAs in fermentation processes.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

foam control / fermentation / process / microorganism / polyglycol

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