Effects of medium components on the growth of Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens and succinic acid production

Several factors affecting cell growth and succinic acid production by Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens were examined by cultivating cells under various conditions. Maximum specific growth rate in the flask cultivation increased with increasing initial glucose concentration up to 20 g/l glucose. The distribution of fermentation products was not affected by glucose concentration, and the ratio of fermentation products (g-acetic acid/g-succinic acid) was similar (1:4) for all glucose concentrations. Other carbon sources including lactose, sucrose, maltose, and fructose could be utilized by A. succiniciproducens. Cell concentration and the amount of succinic acid attainable was dependent on the inoculum size. Sodium ion was essential for cell growth and succinic acid production, and its optimum concentration was 4 g/l. Cell growth and succinic acid production were slightly enhanced at the optimum magnesium ion concentration of 0.4 g/l. Among the seven different complex nitrogen sources examined by Plackett-Burman design, only poylpeptone enhanced succinic acid production. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.