Technical Services Facilities

Fermentation Facility

Under the direction of David Wilson, the Fermentation Facility offers researchers the opportunity to study fermentation parameters and to scale up cell growth beyond the lab bench level. The controlled growth of bacteria and yeast holds great promise for the commercial production of enzymes and specialty chemicals for use in a variety of products.

The facility contains a 75 liter, computer-controlled New Brunswick IF-75 fermenter with a working range of 30 to 55 liters. Ten independent parameters can be managed by the ML-4100 controller, which allows regulation of air flow, agitation rate, temperature, pressure, pH, dissolved oxygen and antifoam addition. A six-channel recorder plots the agitator RPM, temperature, pH, pO2, air flow and vessel pressure.

In addition, there are four 10-liter New Brunswick fermenters with one pH control unit, as well as a refrigerated Sharples continuous flow centrifuge for harvesting cells, a Millipore Pellicon cassette system for harvesting cells and concentrating solutions and an Aminco motorized French press for making cell extracts. The Pellicon system is capable of harvesting 50 liters of solution E. coli in approximately 1 1/2 hours. The facility has a 0.2 um membrane for harvesting cells, a 100,000 MW cut-off membrane for concentrating large proteins and a 10,000 MW cut-off membrane for concentrating most proteins.

Contact:
Dr. David B. Wilson, Director
email: DBW3@cornell.edu
Phone: (607) 255-5706
Fax: (607) 255-2428