The production of lipase by Geotrichum candidum in both, stirred tank and airlift bioreactors were compared. G candidum an imperfect filamentous fungus, grows well in liquid medium, and produces a lipase with specific affinity for long-chain fatty acids with cis-9 double bonds but, lipase production is generally not efficient because the optimum medium composition and fermentation conditions are not known. Response surface methodology was used to optimize the agitation speed (100-500 rpm) and aeration (0.2-1.8 vvm) for production of lipase by G candidum in a bench-scale stirred fermenter. A Central Composite Rotatable Design (CCRD) was used to optimize lipase activity and productivity. Lipase production in an airlift fermenter was also studied with aeration ranging from I to 3 vvm. A previously optimized culture medium containing 3.58% of peptone, 0.64% of soy oil and an initial pH of 7.0, was used in the experiments, incubating at 30 degreesC. In the stirred reactor the optimum conditions of agitation and aeration for lipase production and productivity were 300 rpm and 1 vvm, leading to an activity of 20 U cm(-1) in 54 h of fermentation and 0.3900 (U cm(-3) h(-1)) of productivity. The best aeration condition in the airlift fermenter was 2.5 vvm, which yielded similar lipase activity after 30 h of fermentation, resulting in a productivity of 0.6423 (U cm(-3) h(-1)). In the absence of mechanical agitation similar lipase yields were achieved but in less time, resulting in productivity, about 60% greater than in a stirred fermenter; the lower energy demand for the same lipase yield offers economic advantages. (C) 2004 Society of Chemical Industry.