Question

Basic function of a fermentor is

• A. To sterilize the medium
• B. To recover the product
• C. To provide optimum growth conditions to organism and obtained desired product
• D. To purify the product

Hint:

Think of a fermentor as a controlled environment: It monitors and maintains temperature, pH, and oxygen to keep microbes growing at their maximum exponential rate.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
A fermentor (or bioreactor) is a specialized vessel used in biotechnology to culture microorganisms, animal cells, or plant cells on a large scale.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
1. The primary purpose of a fermentor is to cultivate a cell population to produce a target metabolite or recombinant protein.
2. To maximize yield, the fermentor maintains a controlled environment, regulating parameters such as temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen concentration, nutrient feeding, and agitation.
3. While auxiliary systems handle sterilization (autoclaves) and product recovery/purification (downstream processing), the fermentor's role is to provide optimal growth conditions during the cultivation phase.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The basic function of a fermentor is to provide optimum growth conditions to the organism to obtain the desired product.