Glucoamylase Biosynthesis by Cells of Aspergillus niger C58-III Immobilized in Sintered Glass and Pumice Stones

A simple method of A. niger C_58-III cell immobilization is described. This strain produces extracellular glucoamylase. According to the proposed method A. niger spores were first immobilized by adsorption in sintered glass Rasching rings (RR) or pumice stones (PS). Growing out from spores, A. niger cells produced extracellular glucoamylase. This technique facilitates the culture growth in a filamentous spongy structure of the supports with a continuous accumulation of biomass. After every 24 h it was possible to obtain culture liquid rich in glucoamylase. This procedure can be repeated 30 times using the same sample of immobilized A. niger culture without any loss of glucoamylase activity in the liquid medium. In a 96 h period immobilized A. niger cells produced 300 units × ml⁻¹ whereas a shake culture of this fungus produced only 186 units × ml⁻¹.