Application of a pH feedback-controlled substrate feeding method in lactic acid production

Appl Biochem Biotechnol. 2010 Dec;162(8):2149-56. doi: 10.1007/s12010-010-8989-x. Epub 2010 May 26.

Abstract

Substrate concentration in lactic acid fermentation broth could not be controlled well by traditional feeding methods, including constant, intermittent, and exponential feeding methods, in fed-batch experiments. A simple feedback feeding method based on pH was proposed to control pH and substrate concentration synchronously to enhance lactic acid production in fed-batch culture. As the linear relationship between the consumption amounts of alkali and that of substrate was concluded during lactic acid fermentation, the alkali and substrate in the feeding broth were mixed together proportionally. Thus, the concentration of substrate could be controlled through the adjustment of pH automatically. In the fed-batch lactic acid fermentation with Lactobacillus lactis-11 by this method, the residual glucose concentration in fermentation broth was controlled between 4.1 and 4.9 g L⁻¹, and the highest concentration of lactic acid, maximum cell dry weight, volumetric productivity of lactic acid, and yield were 96.3 g L⁻¹, 4.7 g L⁻¹, 1.9 g L⁻¹ h⁻¹, and 0.99 g lactic acid per gram of glucose, respectively, compared to 82.7 g L⁻¹, 3.31 g L⁻¹, 1.7 g L⁻¹ h⁻¹, and 0.92 g lactic acid per gram of glucose in batch culture. This feeding method was simple and easily operated and could be feasible for industrial lactic acid production in the future.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Ammonium Hydroxide
  • Culture Techniques
  • Feedback / drug effects*
  • Fermentation / drug effects*
  • Glucose / metabolism
  • Glucose / pharmacology
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Hydroxides / metabolism
  • Hydroxides / pharmacology
  • Lactic Acid / biosynthesis*
  • Lactobacillus / drug effects
  • Lactobacillus / metabolism
  • Linear Models

Substances

  • Hydroxides
  • Lactic Acid
  • Ammonium Hydroxide
  • Glucose