• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.24-28
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• 1989

Effect of various fermentation parameter was investigated on the production of prednisolone by microbial $\Delta$'-dehydrogenation of hydrocortisone. The microbial conversion process was conducted by using pseudo-crystallo-fermentation techniques. The optimum temperature for the bioconversion process was found to be 35$^{\circ}C$. It was noted that the production rate of prednisolone was little affected within the initial pH range of 6.5-7.8, and also by the use of surfactant, Tween 80. Production rate of prednisolone was significantly reduced by the use of the antifoam agent, neolin. In a fermentor operation, however, large amount of antifoam agent should be used to remove foams generated by the high aeration rate, which resulted in n lower production rate of prednisolone than that from the shake flask experiment.