Lactic acid production in a cell retention continuous culture using lignocellulosic hydrolysate as a substrate

The effect of lignocellulosic hydrolysate of crushed corn cobs on the kinetics of growth and lactic acid production of Lactobacillus casei and L. lactis in the cell retention continuous culture was studied. The continuous cultivations were carried out in a continuous flow stirred bioreactor combined in a recycle loop with an ultrafiltration module retaining all biomass and allowing the continuous removal of metabolites, including lactic acid, as a cell-free permeate. Based on computer-aided analysis of experimental data, a simple physiological model of lactic acid cultivation was developed. The parameters of the model were estimated by non-linear regression. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.