Figure 5

Schematic of gas stripping system. Sterile air is pumped (3 cc/min) into a flask containing 100 mL sterile water to saturate the air and thereby prevent evaporation of water in the culture flask. Vaporized product (isobutyraldehyde) is then carried into a series of traps and condensers held at 1 -4 °C where it is captured for quantification. Removal of product during production greatly reduces accumulation which is often toxic to the cells.