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Process


The most frequent methods used are batch, fed-batch, repeated batch, and continuous for lactic acid production. Fed-batch cultures produce higher quantity of lactic acid than in continuous cultures. Continuous cultures on the other hand produce higher productivity of lactic acid as well as the possibility to continue the process for a longer period of time. The different approaches in producing lactic acid can be found in the table below.
 

Organism

Fermentation mode

γ (lactic acid)
g/L

Productivity
g/(L.h)

Lactobacillus casei SU No 22+

fed-batch, coimmobilization

47.0

2.0

Lactobacillus lactis WS 1042

Enterococcus faecalis RKY1

batch,
 

95.7

4.0

repeated batch, cell-recycle via membrane

93.2

6.4

Lactobacillus rhamnosus ATCC 10863

batch,

~ 120.0

2.1

continuous, cell-recycle via membrane

92.0

57.0

Lactobacillus casei ssp. Rhamnosus ATCC 11443

continuous, cell-recycle via immobilization

22.4

9.0

Lactobacillus delbrueckii NRRL B445

fed-batch, in situ removal via solvent extraction

~ 23.1

0.2

Lactococcus lactis IO-1 JCM 7638

batch, in situ removal via electrodialysis

~ 39.0

0.9

Lactobacillus rhamnosus IFO 3863

batch,
 

98.0

1.9

continuous, in situ removal via electrodialysis

~ 20.0

8.2

Lactobacillus helveticus CNRZ 303

continuous, cell-recycle via membrane

55.0

7.1

Lactobacillus delbrueckii CECT 286

continuous, in situ removal via ion-exchange resin

26.1

10.4


General Process of Lactic Acid Production Using Whey as Raw Material

Type of Reactor
Continuous Stirred Tank Reactor

Raw Material
Whey

Steps

  1. Whey proteins are separated from the acid whey.
  2. The lactose in the whey permeate is converted to lactic acid in an un-aerated bioreactor by a strain of lactic acid bacteria which does not require any further supplements, to lactate.
    This method produces high concentrations of biomass. High and economic lactic acid productivities are also achieved by cell recycling using an integrated cross-flow-filtration unit.
  3. The product recovery is carried out by bipolar electrodialysis, converting lactate directly into the free acid
    Diagram illustrating bipolar electrodialysis

Advantages

  1. Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) reduction of waste water by over 90 % with simultaneous recovery of useful products (L-lactic acid, proteins, biomass).
  2. Production of the free lactic acid and recovery of the neutralizing agent used in fermentation.
  3. Minimal amounts of supplements and additional chemicals.
  4. Economic production of lactic acid by the application of environmentally sound technologies.
  5. High lactic acid productivities by cell recycle.