Non-Sterilized Fermentative Production of Polymer-Grade L-Lactic Acid by a Newly Isolated Thermophilic Strain Bacillus sp. 2–6
2009

Production of L-Lactic Acid by Bacillus sp. 2–6

publication Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Qin Jiayang, Zhao Bo, Wang Xiuwen, Wang Limin, Yu Bo, Ma Yanhe, Ma Cuiqing, Tang Hongzhi, Sun Jibin, Xu Ping

Primary Institution: Tianjin Industrial Biotechnology R&D Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Hypothesis

Can a newly isolated thermophilic strain of Bacillus produce L-lactic acid efficiently without sterilization?

Conclusion

Bacillus sp. strain 2–6 can produce high concentrations of optically pure L-lactic acid efficiently in open fermentation without sterilization.

Supporting Evidence

  • Bacillus sp. 2–6 produced 118.0 g/liter of L-lactic acid with 99.4% optical purity in batch fermentation.
  • The strain achieved a maximum concentration of 182.0 g/liter in fed-batch fermentation.
  • The average productivity of L-lactic acid was 4.37 g/liter/h in batch fermentation.
  • Open fermentation without sterilization significantly reduced production costs.

Takeaway

Scientists found a new type of bacteria that can make a useful acid for making biodegradable plastic without needing to clean everything first, which saves time and money.

Methodology

The study involved isolating Bacillus sp. strain 2–6 from soil, optimizing fermentation conditions, and conducting batch and fed-batch fermentations to produce L-lactic acid.

Limitations

The study did not explore the long-term stability of the strain or its performance in industrial-scale applications.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0004359

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