Understanding Industrial Fermenters | 理解工业发酵罐

📚 Understanding Industrial Fermenters | 理解工业发酵罐

Industrial fermenters are large, computer-controlled vessels in which microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi are grown on an industrial scale. They are used to produce food, medicines and enzymes. Understanding their design and the conditions inside them is essential for IGCSE Science.

工业发酵罐是大型、由计算机控制的容器，用于在工业规模上培养细菌和真菌等微生物。它们被用于生产食品、药物和酶。了解其设计和内部条件，对于IGCSE科学来说至关重要。

1. What is a fermenter? | 什么是发酵罐？

A fermenter is a container designed to grow microorganisms in large quantities under carefully controlled conditions. In industry, it is usually made of stainless steel and can hold thousands of litres. The conditions are kept optimal so that the microorganisms grow quickly and produce the required product.

发酵罐是一种在精心控制的条件下大规模培养微生物的容器。在工业上，它通常由不锈钢制成，容量可达数千升。通过保持最适条件，微生物能够快速生长并生成所需产物。

Although the word ‘fermenter’ is sometimes used only for anaerobic fermentation, in GCSE-type courses it refers to any large culture vessel used for growing microorganisms, including aerobic processes.

虽然“发酵罐”一词有时只用于厌氧发酵，但在IGCSE等课程中，它通常指用于培养微生物的任何大型培养容器，也包括好氧过程。

2. Why grow microorganisms in a fermenter? | 为什么要在发酵罐中培养微生物？

Microorganisms are used to make a remarkable range of useful products. Growing them in a fermenter allows these products to be made on a large scale, under safe and repeatable conditions, without relying on natural seasons or weather.

微生物可用来制造种类繁多的有用产品。在发酵罐中培养它们，可以在安全、可重复的条件下大规模生产这些产品，而不依赖自然季节或天气。

• Food: mycoprotein from the fungus Fusarium is a protein-rich meat substitute.

  食品：利用镰刀菌属真菌生产真菌蛋白，作为富含蛋白质的肉类替代品。

• Medicines: antibiotics such as penicillin are produced by Penicillium mould.

  药物：青霉素等抗生素由青霉属霉菌生产。

• Enzymes: industrial enzymes can be produced in fermenters and used in washing powders, foods and biofuels.

  酶：可在发酵罐中生产工业酶，并用于洗衣粉、食品和生物燃料。

Because microorganisms reproduce rapidly, a small number of cells can produce a large amount of product in a relatively short time.

由于微生物繁殖迅速，少量细胞即可在较短时间内产生大量产物。

3. Key components of an industrial fermenter | 工业发酵罐的主要部件

An industrial fermenter is more than just a tank. It contains several components, each with a specific job. The table below summarises the main parts you need to know for the exam.

工业发酵罐不仅仅是一个罐体。它包含多个部件，每个部件都有特定作用。下表总结了考试中需要掌握的主要部件。