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What is the difference between continuous culture and batch culture techniques?
Posted December 16, 2020
Answer
While batch culture and continuous culture are both used to grow microorganisms or cells, there are some stark differences between the two techniques (see table below).
| Batch Culture | Continuous Culture |
| Microorganisms or cells are grown in an environment with a limited supply of nutrients | Microorganisms or cells are grown in an environment where nutrients are continuously supplied |
| Nutrients are added at the start of the process and are a limiting factor | Nutrients are added continuously throughout the process |
| Growth is carried out in a closed system | Growth is carried out in an open system |
| Lag, log and stationary phases occur | Lag and log phases are maintained |
| Less labor-intensive | Labor-intensive and costly |
| Low yielding process | High yielding process |
| Low turnover rate | High turnover rate |
| Used for the production of secondary metabolites (e.g. antibiotics) | Used for the production of primary metabolites (e.g. amino acids) |
| Product is removed when fermentation has stopped | Products are continuously removed |
| Low chance of contamination | High change of contamination |
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