Effect of Culture Conditions on the production of Succinate by Enterococcus faecalis RKY1

Bioconversion of fumarate to succinate was anaerobically conduced in a synthetic medium containing glycerol as a hydrogen donor and fumarate as a hydrogen acceptor. We investigated the effects of pH, carbon and nitrogen sources, conversion substrate, and other culture conditions on the production of succinate using a nwely isoloated Enterococcus facalis PKY1. Addition of a variety of carbonates to the medium significantly increasd the rates of production of succinate. The production of succinate and cell growth were relatively satisfactory in the pH range of 7.0-7.6. By using glycerol as a hydrogen donor, high purity succinate was produced with few byproducts. Yeast extract as a sole nitrogen source was the most effective for producing succinalte. As a result, the optimum condition of biconversion was obtained at a medium containing 20g/I glycerol, 50 g/l fumarate, 15 g/l yeast extract, 10 g/l $K_2HPO_4$, 1 g/I NaCl, 50ppm $MgCl_2{\cdot}6H_2O$, 10ppm $FeSo_4{\cdot}7H_2O$, and 5 g/I $Na_2CO_3$ at pH 7.0-7.6. Under the optimum condition, a succinate concentration of 153 g/I was produced in 36 h. The total volumetric production rate and the molar yield of succinate were 4.3 g/l/h and 85%, respectively.