title: Enhancement of L+-lactic acid production using mycelial flocs of Rhizopus oryzae.
abstract: L(+)-Lactic acid production was enhanced in the culture of Rhizopus oryzae using mycelial flocs formed by addition of 3 g/L mineral support and 5 ppm polyethylene oxide. By addition of the mineral support, an electrostatic repulsion between mycelia increased by 3.5-fold compared to that of mycelia, which allowed a dispersed growth of R. oryzae in the early growth phase. In conventional culture the morphology of R. oryzae is that of a pellet-like cake, however, when support and polyethylene oxide are added to the culture, the morphology of R. oryzae takes on a cotton-like appearance. The formation of these cotton-like mycelial flocs was induced by the addition of 5 ppm polyethylene oxide into a 14 h culture containing the mineral support before the formation of the conventional pellet morphology. The cotton-like flocs were also formed in cultures grown in a fermentor. This morphology allowed effective mass transfer inside the flocs and effective fluidity of culture broth in the reactor. L(+)-Lactic acid concentration produced by mycelial flocs in fermentor, with the support and polyethylene oxide, was 103.6 g/L with the yield of 0.86 using 120 g/L of glucose as the substrate for this cultures without both, the concentration was 65.2 g/L. It demonstrates that cotton-like mycelial flocs are the optimal morphology in the culture of R. oryzae.
authors.affiliation: Biochemical Engineering Laboratory, Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, University of Shizuoka, 836 Ohya, Shizuoka 422, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kosakai
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Soo Park
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okabe