• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.12
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• pp.1664-1672
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• 2014

In this study, a fibrous bed bioreactor (FBB) was used for $\small{D}$-lactic acid ($\small{D}$-LA) production by Sporolactobacillus inulinus Y2-8. Corn flour hydrolyzed with ${\alpha}$-amylase and saccharifying enzyme was used as a cost-efficient and nutrient-rich substrate for $\small{D}$-LA production. A maximal starch conversion rate of 93.78% was obtained. The optimum pH for $\small{D}$-LA production was determined to be 6.5. Ammonia water was determined to be an ideal neutralizing agent, which improved the $\small{D}$-LA production and purification processes. Batch fermentation and fed-batch fermentation, with both free cells and immobilized cells, were compared to highlight the advantages of FBB fermentation. In batch mode, the $\small{D}$-LA production rate of FBB fermentation was 1.62 g/l/h, which was 37.29% higher than that of free-cell fermentation, and the $\small{D}$-LA optical purities of the two fermentation methods were above 99.00%. In fe$\small{D}$-batch mode, the maximum $\small{D}$-LA concentration attained by FBB fermentation was 218.8 g/l, which was 37.67% higher than that of free-cell fermentation. Repeate$\small{D}$-batch fermentation was performed to determine the long-term performance of the FBB system, and the data indicated that the average $\small{D}$-LA production rate was 1.62 g/l/h and the average yield was 0.98 g/g. Thus, hydrolyzed corn flour fermented by S. inulinus Y2-8 in a FBB may be used for improving $\small{D}$-LA fermentation by using ammonia water as the neutralizing agent.