토양으로부터 생육도와 유기산의 자화도가 우수한 광합성세균 P17 균주를 분리하여 균학적 성질을 검토한 결과 이 균주는 Rhodospirillum rubrum으로 동정되었다. 유기폐수처리용 종균 생산을 위한 본 균주의 배양조건을 검토한 결과, 탄소원으로서 0.2% Na-acetate, 0.1% Na-propionate, 0.2% Na-lactate를 함유한 혼합 유기산이 효과적이었으며, 0.1% yeast extract를 첨가하였을 때 높은 생육도를 나타내었다. 최적배양조건의 환경인자들은 온도 $30^{circ}C$, pH 7.0, 조도 2,500 lux, 교반 $50{sim}100;rpm$ 등이었다. Jar fermentor를 이용한 회분배양과 반연속배양으로부터 각각 5.17 g/l와 7.93 g/l의 균체가 생산되었으며, 연속배양에서는 희석비율 0.21 $h^{-1}$에서 생산성이 0.206 g/l/h이었다. R. rubrum P17을 두부공업폐수에 적용시켰을 때, 4일간 배양으로 초기 COD(3,240 mg/l)를 250 mg/l까지 감소시켰다.
A photosynthetic bacterium strain P17 having high growth rate and assimilating ability of organic acids was isolated from several soil samples, which was identified as Rhodospirillum rubrum. Cultural conditions of the strain P17 were examined for the production of starter culture used in the treatment of organic waste water. The addition of organic acids mixture as carbon source containing 0.2% Na-acetate, 0.1% Na-propionate and 0.2% Na-lactate and 0.1% of yeast extract as growth factor stimulated the cell growth. The maximal cell production was obtained at $30^{circ}C$, pH 7.0, 2,500 lux of illumination and $50{sim}100;rpm$ of agitation. Under the optimal conditions of batch and fed-batch culture systems in a Jar fermentor, 5.17 g/l and 7.93 g/l of cells were obtained after S days of cultivation, respectively. In continuous culture system, the cell productivity was 0.206 g/l/h at a dilution rate of 0.21 $h^{-1}$. When R. rubrum P17 was cultivated in a soybean curd waste water, initial COD level(3,240 mg/l) of the waste water was reduced to 250 mg/l after 4 days of cultivation.
