Propionibacterium acidipropionici produces propionic acid from different sugars and glycerol; the production can be improved by high cell density fermentations using immobilized cells that help to overcome the limitations of the non-productive lag phase and product inhibition. In this study, the use of stress factors to induce P. acidipropionici to form biofilm and its use as an immobilization procedure in fermentations in bioreactors for producing propionic acid was investigated. Citric acid and sodium chloride increased exopolysaccharide production, biofilm forming capacity index and trehalose production. Analysis of the expression of trehalose synthesis-related genes otsA and treY by RT-qPCR showed significantly increased expression of only treY during log phase with citric acid, while FISH analysis showed expression of treY and luxS under the influence of both stress factors. The stress factors were then used for development of microbial biofilms as immobilization procedure on Poraver® and AnoxKaldnes® carriers in recycle batch reactors for propionic acid production from 20 g/L glycerol. Highest productivities of 0.7 and 0.78 g/L/h were obtained in Poraver® reactors, and 0.39 and 0.43 g/L/h in AnoxKaldnes® reactors with citric acid and NaCl, respectively.
Keywords: Biofilm; Immobilization; Propionic acid; Stress factor; Trehalose.