Bacillus coagulans Fermentation for Lactic Acid from Whey Permeate
Solution Overview
Problem
Lactic acid producing bacteria are inhibited by the high concentrations of sodium chloride, phosphates, and lactose in delactosed whey permeate, making it challenging for them to grow and convert the substrate into lactic acid effectively in batch fermentation.
Innovation Solution
Bacillus coagulans bacteria, including wild-type and adapted strains, are capable of growing on delactosed whey permeate and converting it into lactic acid efficiently, even at high concentrations, using a method that involves culturing in a medium with high DLP content and recovering the lactic acid with yields exceeding 85%.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional lactic acid producing bacteria are used in batch fermentation with delactosed whey permeate, then the substrate contains high concentrations of sodium chloride, phosphates, and lactose that can be converted into lactic acid, but the bacteria are inhibited by these high concentrations and cannot grow effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by transitioning from batch fermentation to continuous fermentation mode, and by adjusting operational parameters such as dilution rate and substrate concentration in the continuous process. This allows the system to operate at optimal points where bacterial growth and lactic acid production are maximized despite the high salt and phosphate concentrations in DLP
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a dual-function continuous fermentation system that simultaneously supports bacterial growth and lactic acid production in the same reactor. The system is designed to handle the unique challenges of DLP substrate while maintaining both cell viability and product formation, making the process universally applicable to this difficult substrate
2Quantity of substance
If high concentrations of delactosed whey permeate are used as substrate, then the potential lactic acid yield increases, but the osmotic and chloride challenges become highly detrimental to bacterial growth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful high concentration of DLP into a beneficial feature by designing a continuous fermentation system where the high substrate concentration directly translates to high product throughput. The system is engineered to tolerate and thrive in conditions that would inhibit batch fermentation, turning the osmotic and chloride stress into a selective advantage for robust continuous operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-adapting the bacterial strains to high DLP concentrations before deployment in the continuous fermentation process. This pre-adaptation phase allows the bacteria to develop resistance to osmotic and chloride stress, enabling them to subsequently thrive in the high-concentration substrate conditions of the continuous reactor
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method allows for the efficient production of lactic acid from delactosed whey permeate with Bacillus coagulans strains, achieving yields of up to 100 g/liter with high tolerance to DLP concentrations, overcoming the growth inhibition issues faced by traditional lactic acid producing bacteria.
Implementation Method 1
The invention relates to a method for producing lactic acid by means of bacterial fermentation of a substrate
Data Source
AI summary
A method for producing lactic acid comprises the steps of culturing in a culture medium comprising concentrated whey permeate or delactosed whey permeate as a substrate a bioconversion competent Bacillus bacterial strain capable of converting delactosed whey permeate into lactic acid for a period of time sufficient to allow the bacteria convert at least some of the lactose present in DLP or concentrated whey permeate into lactic acid, and then recovering the lactic acid from the culture medium.