Explain the purpose of supplying air and controlling temperature in a fermenter used for penicillin production.

Here are the explanations for the fermenter:

• (i) Air is supplied to the fermenter because the fungus that produces penicillin, Penicillium, is an aerobic organism. It requires oxygen for respiration to grow and produce penicillin efficiently. The air is filtered to prevent contamination.

• (ii) The temperature in the fermenter must be controlled because the enzymes within the Penicillium fungus have an optimum temperature for their activity. Maintaining this optimal temperature ensures the fungus grows at its best rate and produces the maximum yield of penicillin. Deviations can denature enzymes or slow down growth.