JPH0335119Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention continuously filters and collects treated liquids such as culture liquids and fermentation liquids that have been treated with microorganisms during continuous culture and continuous fermentation without leaking out the microorganisms. Regarding equipment.

(Prior art and its problems) When performing continuous culture or continuous fermentation using a treatment liquid in a fermenter or a bioreactor, it is necessary to supply a culture medium from one side while supplying a treatment liquid such as a culture liquid or fermentation liquid from the other. It's being taken out. However, if the microorganisms used in the treatment flow out together with the treatment liquid taken out at this time, it will be difficult to maintain a high concentration of microorganisms, and the concentration of the obtained treatment liquid will exceed a certain limit. It is difficult to do so.

Therefore, in order to maintain a high concentration of microorganisms and obtain a highly concentrated fermentation liquid, it is necessary to retain the microorganisms in the processing liquid and prevent them from flowing out.
For this reason, as a means for this purpose, devices have been developed that collect fermented liquid and the like while continuously filtering microorganisms.

One example is a bioreactor that is equipped with a filter made of a glass jacket with a ceramic porous tube inside to filter microorganisms, etc. into the bioreactor, which is the processing liquid. cross-flow the fermentation liquor through the pipe between the porous tube and the glass jacket,
The fermented liquid that has been filtered through the porous tube and permeated into the porous tube is taken out through a three-way valve and is sent to the collection tank through the pipe line by suction from the pump.

However, in such a device, microorganisms and the like adhere to the porous tube during filtration, causing clogging. Therefore, in the device, the operation of the extraction pump is stopped,
After sending an alkaline cleaning solution into the porous tube and performing backwashing, acid is injected through the injection tube to neutralize the fermentation liquid in the bioreactor and eliminate clogging. Therefore, since a separate supply device for the alkaline cleaning liquid and the neutralizing agent is required, there is a risk that the device will become larger.

Further, another example is shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 61-5774, and this will be explained with reference to FIG.
The fermentation liquid cross-flows inside. A filter 4 is disposed in this pipe line 3, and the filter 4
, a porous tube 5 connected to the middle part of a conduit 3 is hermetically surrounded by a glass jacket 6. When the inside of the glass jacket 6 is depressurized by suction from the suction port 6a of the glass jacket 6, a cross The flowing fermentation liquid is filtered to the outside of the porous tube 5 and leached out, and the filtered fermentation liquid is sent from the collection port 6b of the glass jacket 6 to a collection tank (not shown).

When the porous tube 5 becomes clogged, sterile air is fed into the glass jacket 6 from the suction port 6a, and the inside of the glass jacket 6 is pressurized to cause the porous tube 5 to become clogged.
The microorganisms clogging the tank are backwashed and returned to the fermenter 1 by cross-flowing fermentation liquid to eliminate the clogging. Therefore, in this case as well, a separate device for depressurizing and pressurizing sterile air is required, which inevitably increases the size of the device.

[Purpose of invention]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a continuous filtration and collection device for processing liquid that can prevent clogging even when culturing microorganisms at high concentrations or during fermentation processing where viscosity increases.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention was developed in view of the above points, and includes a processing liquid, a filter disposed outside the processing liquid and equipped with a porous tubular filter having a hollow portion inside, and a filter that is filtered by the filter. In a continuous filtration and collection device for a processing liquid, the processing liquid is provided with a sampling tank for collecting the processing liquid, and the processing liquid in the processing liquid is cross-flowed to the filter,
The present invention is characterized in that a liquid sending pump that can be rotated in forward and reverse directions is disposed in a conduit that communicates the filter and the collection tank.

[Effect]

The treated liquid sent to the filter from the treated liquid in the fermenter or bioreactor is filtered through a porous tube within the filter while cross-flowing within the filter, and permeates into the porous tube. When the sampling pump is operated, the processing liquid that has permeated into the porous pipe is sent to the sampling tank while the sampling pump is rotating normally. When the sampling pump is reversed after a certain period of time, a portion of the treated liquid collected from the sampling tank is returned to the porous tube for backwashing, removing microorganisms that have clogged the surface and holes of the porous tube. It is returned to the processing solution by the processing solution that is cross-flowing.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

First, FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a continuous filtration and sampling apparatus according to the present invention.

This collection device includes a culture medium tank 10, a fermentation tank 11 for processing liquid, a filter 12, and a collection tank 13, and a liquid level gauge 14 is connected to the fermentation tank 11. A level sensor 15 for measuring the liquid level in the tank 11 is provided. The culture medium tank 10 and the fermentation tank 11 are communicated through a pipe line 16.

In addition, a pump 18 that feeds the fermented liquid from the fermenter 11 to the filter 12 is provided in a pipe 17 that communicates the bottom of the fermenter 11 with the lower part of the filter 12 . Further, a pipe line 19 is provided that communicates the upper part of the filter 12 with the upper part of the fermenter 11.
The cross-flowed fermentation liquid is returned to the fermenter 11. Further, a pipe line 20 that communicates the upper end of the filter 12 and the collection tank 13 is provided with a sampling pump 21 that can be rotated in forward and reverse directions. It is connected to the forward/reverse rotation switching device 22 and the level sensor 15. The shape of the tip of the level sensor 15 is designed to operate the extraction pump 21 for a certain period of time after coming into contact with the liquid level, taking into consideration the viscosity of the fermented liquid. In addition, the extraction pump 21 is connected to the level sensor 1.
The rotation direction of the pump is changed by the forward/reverse switching device 22 during a certain operating time based on the liquid level sensing in step 5, and the direction of rotation of the pump is changed at regular intervals between normal rotation, which feeds the filtered fermented liquid to the collection tank 13, and from the collection tank 13 to the filter. 12.

The filter 12 is composed of a porous tube 12a made of ceramic or the like that allows only the fermentation liquid to pass through without allowing microorganisms in the fermentation liquid to pass through, and a glass jacket 12b surrounding the porous tube 12a. quality tube 1
The pipe line 20 is connected to the upper end of the glass jacket 12b, and the pipe line 17 is connected to the lower part of the glass jacket 12b, and the pipe line 19 is connected to the upper part of the glass jacket 12b.

In addition, the porous tube 12a preferably has a pore diameter of about 0.1 to 10 μm in the tube wall in order to prevent microorganisms and the like from passing through, and it is also necessary that it can be sterilized by an autoclave or the like. For example, ceramics, porous glass, organic polymer materials, sintered stainless steel furnace materials, etc. can be used.

Furthermore, any material can be selected for the pipes connecting each member as long as it can be sterilized using an autoclave or the like.

To describe the operation of the collection device configured as described above, a pipe line 1 is connected to the fermenter 11 from the culture medium tank 10.
6, the medium is supplied little by little. The fermentation liquid fermented by microorganisms in the fermentation tank 11 is fed into the glass jacket 12b of the filter 12 via the pipe 17 by the pump 18,
It cross-flows outside the porous tube 12a and is returned to the fermenter 11 via the conduit 19.
A part of the fermentation liquid is filtered by the porous tube 12a during the cross flow, permeates into the inside of the porous tube 12a, and is transferred to the collection tank 13 via the conduit 20 by the sampling pump 21 rotating normally. taken in

Then, the extraction pump 2 is operated by the forward/reverse switching device 22.
1 is reversed, a part of the fermentation liquid sent to the collection tank 13 flows into the porous tube 12a via the pipe line 20, and when the pressure inside the porous tube 12a increases,
Fermentation occurs in which microorganisms, insoluble solids, etc. that adhere to the surface of the porous tube 12a or that clog the pores of the tube wall are extruded from the outer peripheral surface of the porous tube 12a and cross-flow inside the glass jacket 12b. The liquid is returned to the fermenter 11 via the pipe 19.

The switching time between forward and reverse rotation of the extraction pump 21 is performed by setting the forward/reverse switching device 22 to a desired time according to the state of the fermentation liquid and the filtration state of the porous tube 12a. The normal rotation time is lengthened, such as 2 seconds and reverse rotation for 2 seconds, and the fermented liquid filtered by this difference is stored in the collection tank 13 and used as a product.

In this way, the collecting device in this embodiment can continuously collect fermented liquid while periodically backwashing and removing clogging.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment in which one filter and one extraction pump are added to the sampling apparatus shown in FIG. 1 to make it a switchable type. Components having the same functions as those of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be described using the same reference numerals.

This collection device has a filter 30 having the same structure as the filter 12 installed in parallel with the filter 12, and a pump 18.
A pipe line 31 branched from the pipe line 17 at the rear of the filter is connected to the lower part of the glass jacket 30b of the filter 30, and the upper part of the jacket 30b is connected to the fermenter tank 1.
1 through a conduit 32. In addition, the filter 30
The upper part of the porous pipe 30a and the collection tank 13 are connected to the pipe line 3.
3, and the extraction pump 21 is connected to the pipe line 33.
A withdrawal pump 34 similar to the above is provided. Furthermore, collection tank 1
The filtered fermentation liquid that overflowed in step 3 is fed to a product tank 36 via a pipe line 35.

To explain the operation of this collection device, the fermented liquid fermented in the fermenter 11 is taken out from the pipe line 17 by the pump 18 and fed to the filter 12, and a part of it is filtered via the pipe line 31. The fermenter 30 cross-flows through the filters 12 and 30, and is returned to the fermenter 11 via pipes 19 and 32, respectively.

At this time, when one extraction pump 21 is rotated in the normal direction and the other extraction pump 34 is rotated in the reverse direction, the cross-flowing fermentation liquid is filtered through the porous pipe 12a in the filter 12, and the fermentation liquid is filtered through the porous pipe 12a.
The fermentation liquid in the collection tank 13 is fed to the collection tank 13 via the filter 30 .
4, the microorganisms are fed to the porous tube 30a via the conduit 33, backwash the porous tube 30a, and remove microorganisms adhering to the outer peripheral surface of the porous tube 30a. The microorganisms and the like are returned to the fermenter 11 via the pipe 32 together with the cross-flowing fermentation liquid.

After a certain period of time has elapsed, the rotation directions of the extraction pumps 21 and 34 are reversed, and the filter 12 is backwashed in the same manner as described above, and the filter 30 performs filtration. In this way, by changing the rotational direction of the sampling pumps 21 and 34 at regular intervals, one filter is used to perform filtration, and the other filter is backwashed, thereby making it possible to process the fermented liquor more efficiently. I can do it.

In this case as well, the extraction pumps 21 and 34 operate according to instructions from the level sensor 15, as in the previous embodiment. Further, both of these pumps 21 and 34 are adjusted so that the feed amount during forward rotation is larger than the feed amount during reverse rotation. Therefore, due to this difference in the feeding amount, the treated fermentation liquid is sequentially stored in the collection tank 13, and the overflowing fermentation liquid is transferred to the pipe 3.
5 and is taken out to a product tank 36.

FIG. 3 shows an example in which a bioreactor is used as the treatment liquid instead of the fermenter in the example shown in FIG. Components having the same functions as those in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be described with the same reference numerals.

This bioreactor 40 includes a culture medium tank 10
A pump 41 is provided in the conduit 16 communicating with the pump, and an air supply conduit 42 is connected to the lower part,
This pipe line 42 communicates with a bubbler 43 located in the lower part of the bioreactor 40 .

Next, the operation of this collection device will be explained using vinegar production as an example.

A medium containing Acetobacter aceti is placed in the bioreactor 40 , a medium containing alcohol is sequentially supplied from the medium tank 10 via a pipe 16 by a pump 41 , and air is supplied into the bioreactor 40 via a pipe 42 . Fermentation is carried out while stirring and maintaining an appropriate temperature of approximately 32°C.

Then, the fermentation liquid is transferred to the pipe line 17 by the pump 18.
It is supplied into the glass jacket 12b of the filter 12 through the filter 12, cross-flowed, and returned to the bioreactor 40 via the conduit 19. Also,
The porous tube 12a of the filter 12 has a tube wall with a pore diameter of 0.2.
A ceramic tube of 0.5μ to 0.5μ is used.
Therefore, the cross-flowing fermentation liquid is filtered through the porous tube 12a, and is taken out to the collection tank 13 via the pipe line 20 by normal rotation of the extraction pump 21. Then, after a predetermined period of time has elapsed, the extraction pump 21 is reversed, and the fermentation liquid stored in the collection tank 13 is fed into the porous tube 12a via the pipeline 20 to backwash the tube 12a. Microorganisms and the like adhering to the walls are removed, and these microorganisms and the like are returned to the bioreactor 40 via the pipe 19 together with the cross-flowing fermentation liquid.

The extraction pump 21 rotates forward and reverse at regular intervals, and the switching time is 8 seconds for forward rotation and 2 seconds for reverse rotation in the initial stage of fermentation, and 8 seconds for forward rotation in the intermediate stage.
The operating time was set to be 4 seconds for forward rotation and 2 seconds for reverse rotation in the later stages.

The results of the vinegar production experiment in this way were as follows:
Although the bacterial cell concentration reached 10 ⁶ cells/ml at the early stage of fermentation, 10 ⁹ cells/ml at the middle stage, and 10 ¹¹ cells/ml at the late stage, there was almost no clogging, and the resulting vinegar contained no bacterial cells. The acetic acid concentration was 40 g/min.

[Effect of idea]

As described above, the present invention consists of a processing solution, a filter equipped with a porous tubular filter disposed outside the processing solution and having a hollow portion inside, and a collection method for collecting the processing solution filtered through the filter. In the continuous filtration and collection device for processing liquid, which is provided with a tank and cross-flows the processing liquid in the processing liquid to the filter, a liquid sending pump capable of forward and reverse rotation is provided in a pipe line communicating between the filter and the collection tank. Because of this arrangement, the treatment solution can be collected continuously, and thus high-concentration culture can be stably performed over a long period of time. In addition, since the obtained treated liquid is clear and does not contain any microorganisms, it can be made into a product immediately, eliminating the need for a filtration step after collection. Since the analysis can be performed in advance, changes in the composition can be quickly detected and appropriate measures can be taken in response to the changes. Furthermore, since no chemicals or special gases are used during backwashing, the manufacturing cost is extremely low.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a system diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention using one filter, Fig. 2 is a system diagram showing another embodiment of the invention using two filters, and Fig. 3 is a processing diagram. FIG. 4 is a system diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention using a bioreactor as the liquid, and FIG. 4 is a system diagram showing a conventional example. 10... Culture medium tank, 11... Fermentation tank, 12,
30... Filter, 13... Collection tank, 14... Liquid level gauge, 5... Level sensor, 21, 34... Sampling pump, 32... Forward/reverse switching device, 12a, 30a
...Porous tube, 12b, 30b...Glass jacket, 36...Product tank, 40...Bioreactor.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A processing tank, a filter provided outside the processing tank and equipped with a porous tubular filter having a hollow part inside, and a collection tank for collecting the processing liquid filtered by the filter are provided, and the processing A continuous filtration and collection device for processing liquid that cross-flows the processing liquid in the tank to the filter, characterized in that a liquid sending pump capable of forward and reverse rotation is disposed in a pipe line that communicates the filter and the collection tank. Continuous filtration and collection equipment for processing liquid.