Solving Fermentation Foam Challenges: Chemi Tech's Bacillus Fermentation Defoamer Breakthrough

In the fermentation facility of a biological preparation enterprise in southern China, engineers struggled for months with persistent foam formation during Bacillus fermentation. The foam not only reduced tank capacity utilization but also compromised cell viability and target product synthesis. Traditional defoamers either offered short-lived effects or left residues that inhibited microbial growth—until they discovered Chemi Tech’s dedicated solution.

Chemi Tech’s technical team identified that the protein-polyaccharide complex foam generated in mid-to-late fermentation stages required a composite defoaming system capable of both rapid bubble breaking and sustained suppression. By analyzing carbon-nitrogen ratio, aeration rate, and agitation intensity in the process, the team developed a silicone-polyether hybrid defoamer. Its molecular design incorporated cell-friendly groups that rapidly disperse to the gas-liquid interface to reduce surface tension without disrupting metabolic pathways.

In practice, the client achieved an increase in loading capacity from 65% to 82%, reduced fermentation time by 6%, and significantly improved target product yield. Remarkably, the defoamer dosage decreased by 30% compared to previous methods, and downstream purification became more efficient due to reduced impurity introduction.

Chemi Tech’s innovation lies not only in the product but also in its deep integration of process knowledge and material science. Every batch is tested under simulated fermentation conditions to ensure consistent performance across varying temperatures, pH levels, and dissolved oxygen environments. This approach transforms defoamers from mere additives into critical components for process optimization, delivering invisible yet essential support to biomanufacturing.