The synthesis and secretion of the industrial relevant compatible solutes ectoine and hydroxyectoine using the halophile bacterium Chromohalobacter salexigens were studied and optimized. For this purpose, a cascade of two continuously operated bioreactors was used. In the first bioreactor, cells were grown under constant hyperosmotic conditions and thermal stress driving the cells to accumulate large amounts of ectoines. To enhance the overall productivity, high cell densities up to 61 g L-1 were achieved using a cross-flow ultrafiltration connected to the first bioreactor. In the coupled second bioreactor the concentrated cell broth was subjected to an osmotic and thermal down-shock by addition of fresh distilled water. Under these conditions, the cells are forced to secrete the accumulated intracellular ectoines into the medium to avoid bursting. The cultivation conditions in the first bioreactor were optimized with respect to growth temperature and medium salinity to reach the highest synthesis (productivity); the second bioreactor was optimized using a multi-objective approach to attain maximal ectoine secretion with simultaneous minimization of cell death and product dilution caused by the osmotic and thermal down-shock. Depending on the cultivation conditions, intracellular ectoine and hydroxyectoine contents up to 540 and 400 mg per g cell dry weight, respectively, were attained. With a maximum specific growth rate of 0.3 h(-1) in defined medium, productivities of approximately 2.1 g L-1 h(-1) secreted ectoines in continuous operation were reached. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2010; 107: 124-133. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.