The 25th anniversary of vitamin C two step fermentation

Introduction: Recently, the Institute of Microbiology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences published an article on the media to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the invention of the two-step fermentation method for vitamin C production At the end of 1960s, the technicians of Beijing pharmaceutical factory put forward the urgent request to the Institute of microbiology to reform the old technology of vitamin C production In 1980, the two-step fermentation method for vitamin C production won the second prize of national invention In 1986, the new technology was transferred to an internationally famous (world-class) pharmaceutical company (in Switzerland) at a price of 5.5 million US dollars The transaction volume not only set a record of China's largest technology export transaction volume in that year, but even today, it is no better in the Chinese Academy of Sciences system A major inventor who participated in the research and invention said that in the mid-1980s, China's technology export was still in its infancy The successful transfer of the two-step fermentation technology for vitamin C production not only won glory for the motherland, but also boosted the hearts of the research institutes and the confidence in scientific research Now it has been 25 years since the calculation, the domestic pharmaceutical factories still use the two-step fermentation process for vitamin C production, which has been creating huge economic and social benefits Therefore, this achievement has important commemorative value Looking back on this period of history, the researchers of the Institute have summed up an experience that it is of great significance to carry out scientific research from the needs of the country and the economic and social development The traditional method of vitamin C production was invented by German in 1933 It needs five processes (one step fermentation, ketonization, oxidation, transformation and refining) It is difficult to operate continuously In the process of production, there are not only a large number of toxic gases and "three wastes", but also strict fire and explosion-proof safety requirements for the production environment Our researchers decided to find a new way to replace chemical oxidation with biological oxidation by consulting data and analyzing carefully This route later proved successful In the first step, L-sorbose was used as raw material, a strain of Gluconobacter oxydans ("small bacteria") and a strain of Pseudomonas ("large bacteria"), a natural combination of two kinds of bacteria, and then the mixed strain was fermented in the second step to produce (-) 2-keto-L-gulonic acid, which was then transformed into vitamin C Another experience is that perseverance is the foundation of scientific research and innovation At that time, the equipment, environment, data and other conditions were relatively backward At first, we had a period of time, but we never wavered in our confidence At the most tense time, we worked nine consecutive night shifts There has been no breakthrough for seven months, and everyone is under a lot of pressure However, 1615 strains of bacteria using L (- -) - sorbose were isolated from 670 samples, and finally a strain of acid producing "excellent" bacteria (n1197a) was selected Another experience is that the economic and social benefits of the transformation of scientific research achievements are the driving force for innovation Compared with the similar work in the world, the two-step fermentation method for vitamin C production invented by the Institute of microbiology has four advantages 1 Replacing chemical oxidation with biological oxidation saves ketone reaction; 2 Saves a large number of flammable, explosive and toxic chemical raw materials, greatly reduces "three wastes" treatment, improves working conditions, and is conducive to safe production; 3 Reduces industrial grain, production process and production equipment, shortens production cycle, and reduces raw material cost 4 Compared with the two-step fermentation abroad, its fermentation scale and acid production are in the leading position Taking the annual output of 150 tons of vitamin C workshop of Beijing Pharmaceutical Factory as an example, 297 tons of acetone (equivalent to 2.378 million jin of grain) can be saved every year, more than 2600 tons of other chemical raw materials and 58 main equipment can be saved, and the cost of raw materials can be reduced by 10% It is reported that at present, there is an annual production capacity of more than 30000 tons of vitamin C in China If all production is started, the economic benefits, social benefits and ecological and environmental benefits will be immeasurable The invention of the two-step fermentation method for vitamin C production is a milestone in the development history of microorganisms This year is the 25th anniversary of the award of the invention It is more realistic for us to review the history and encourage future generations to create brilliance Now, the Institute of microbiology is committed to creating a good soft environment for scientific research, establishing a young, active, capable and efficient scientific research team, mobilizing everyone's enthusiasm, and making microbial research become a "high-tech and large industry" in a real sense through continuous efforts.