Fermentation application of probiotics and requirements for fermenters

With the popularity of health concept and the increase of people's attention to intestinal health, the application of probiotics in food, health products and medicine has been widely paid attention to. The fermentation process of probiotics is the key link in its production, and the requirement of fermenter is very strict. This paper will start from the fermentation application of probiotics, discuss the fermentation technology in probiotics production and the related requirements of fermenter in detail.

Definition and fermentation application of probiotics

Probiotics are microorganisms that can grow in the gut of a host (such as the human body) and produce beneficial effects, usually including Lactobacillus, bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus acidophilus, etc. Probiotics can have a positive impact on host health by regulating intestinal microecological balance, improving intestinal function, enhancing immunity, and reducing the growth of harmful bacteria.

The fermentation of probiotics is widely used, mainly in the following aspects:

Food fermentation: Probiotics were first used in the fermentation of dairy products, such as yogurt, fermented milk and lactic acid bacteria drinks. Through the fermentation of probiotics, dairy products not only have a unique flavor, but also provide active probiotics that promote intestinal health.

Health food and functional drinks: With the increase of people's health needs, probiotics are widely used in various health food, functional drinks and dietary supplements. For example, probiotic capsules, probiotic powders, probiotic drinks, etc., improve the balance of intestinal flora by providing quantitative active flora.

Medical application: Probiotics are mainly used in the field of medicine for the treatment and prevention of intestinal diseases, immune regulation and antibacterial. Studies have shown that probiotics can be used to treat diarrhea, constipation, intestinal flora disorders and other diseases.

The fermentation production of probiotics is the basis of its industrial application, and the optimization of fermentation process is closely related to the design of fermenter.

MIKEBIO case of probiotics fermentation system 

Probiotic fermentation process

The fermentation process of probiotics is the process by which microorganisms transform raw materials (such as sugar, dairy products, etc.) into biologically active products under suitable environmental conditions. The fermentation process is not only related to the activity and quantity of probiotics, but also affects the quality of the final product. The basic process of probiotic fermentation consists of the following steps:

Inoculation and culture: First, the appropriate probiotic strains need to be selected and inoculated into the fermenter. The selection of strains is very important, and different strains have different fermentation characteristics, adaptability and physiological functions, so it is necessary to determine the appropriate strains according to the requirements of the target product.

Fermentation process control: During the fermentation process, environmental factors such as temperature, pH value and dissolved oxygen need to be adjusted to ensure the optimal growth and fermentation of bacteria. Probiotics generally grow well in a specific temperature range, such as lactic acid bacteria which are usually most active between 37-42 ° C.

End of fermentation and harvest: After the fermentation process continues for a certain period of time, the bacterial reproduction reaches the predetermined goal, and the harvest stage can be entered. At this time, the concentration of probiotics in the fermenter reaches the maximum, and the metabolites of the bacteria (such as lactic acid, acetic acid, etc.) also reach a high level.

Post-treatment: The harvested bacterial solution usually needs to be concentrated, dried, etc., to make the final product. Probiotic powders, for example, are usually spray-dried and packaged into capsules, powders or drinks.

Requirements for fermenters

In the fermentation process of probiotics, the fermenter plays a crucial role. A suitable fermenter provides a stable fermentation environment, ensuring that probiotics grow under optimal conditions. In order to achieve this goal, the design and use of fermenters must meet the following requirements:

Temperature control system: In the fermentation process of probiotics, temperature is a very important control parameter. Too high or too low temperature will affect the growth and metabolism of bacteria, and even lead to death of bacteria. Therefore, fermenters must be equipped with a precise temperature control system to maintain the temperature range required for fermentation. Common temperature control methods include jacketed cooling systems or heating systems.

pH control system: The growth of probiotics is closely related to pH. Most probiotics grow well in weakly acidic environments, so the pH in the fermenter needs to be monitored and adjusted in real time through a pH control system. By adding acid or base, the appropriate pH value can be maintained to promote the proliferation of bacteria.

Ventilation systems and dissolved oxygen control: For aerobic strains (e.g., Lactobacillus acidophilus), adequate oxygen is required during fermentation. Fermenters are usually equipped with ventilation systems and dissolved oxygen monitoring equipment to ensure adequate gas exchange to meet the needs of probiotics. For anaerobic bacteria, the fermenter needs to be strictly sealed and controlled to avoid the entry of oxygen.

Stirring system: The stirring system plays a crucial role in the fermentation process. It can ensure that the materials in the fermenter are evenly mixed, so that the probiotics can obtain sufficient nutrients and effectively expel metabolic waste. Stirring speed needs to be adjusted according to different strains and fermentation scale, too high stirring speed may cause mechanical damage to bacteria.

Tightness and sterility: During the fermentation process, the pollution-free growth of bacteria is crucial, so the fermenter must have good tightness. In order to prevent the contamination of external microorganisms, the fermenter needs to be designed to be high-temperature disinfected, easy to clean the structure, and good sealing, can prevent the entry of outside air.

Automated control system: Modern fermenters are often equipped with advanced automated control systems that can monitor multiple parameters such as temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, and gas flow in real time. Centralized control via PLC (Programmable logic Controller) or DCS (distributed control system) increases production efficiency and ensures stability and repeatability of the fermentation process.

MIKEBIO fermentation system for enzyme preparations

Conclusion

The fermentation application of probiotics has been widely penetrated into many fields such as food, health products and medicine. In order to ensure the efficient production of probiotics in the fermentation process, the design and management of fermenters must meet strict requirements. From temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen to the optimization of the mixing system, each link directly affects the quality of the final product. With the advancement of technology and the increase of demand, the design of fermenters will be more intelligent and automated to adapt to the rapid development of the probiotic industry. By continuously optimizing the fermentation process and its equipment, we can better leverage the health benefits of probiotics and provide consumers with better quality probiotic products.

On the other hand, when choosing a bioreactor fermenter, it is necessary to find a regular manufacturer with good reputation and strength, so as to ensure the quality of the product. Jiangsu Mike Biotechnology Co., Ltd. was established in 2008, is a focus on biological fermentation equipment research and development, production and sales of high-tech enterprises. Our company has a pilot fermentation platform, which is integrated with intelligence and automation, and has built a mature fermentation system, which can realize the optimization of pilot fermentation process, commissioning development of all process processes from pilot fermentation production to fermentation product separation and purification, and set up a doctor workstation and a modern laboratory.

Our company has a standardized production plant, with complete sets of equipment and tools required for installation, mainly including a variety of machine tools, automatic argon arc welding machine, automatic polishing machine, automatic cutting machine and flaw detection machine and other more than 60 sets of production and testing equipment, the production process all realize modern standard operation, to provide customers with more professional quality and technical support.