a method for separation and recovery of polymeric beads from an antibiotic fermentation broth comprising suspending a mixture of the beads and any inherent mold from the fermentation in an aqueous solution having a specific gravity which is effective to cause the beads to form a discrete layer at or on the surface of the solution , separate and apart from the mold . the separate layer of the beads may then be easily removed from the liquid by a conventional physical methods .