Kinetics of Lactic Acid Fermentation byLactobacillus delbrueckii Grown on Beet Molasses

Abstract

The fermentation kinetics for the conversion of beet molasses, a valuable and economical fermentation substrate, to lactic acid by the homofermentative organism Lactobacillus delbrueckii C.E.C.T. 286 have been studied at controlled pH and temperature under anaerobic batch conditions. An inhibitory effect of lactic acid on fermentation of beet molasses has been found. The bacterium was able to produce lactic acid even after growth ceased. A kinetic model for the fermentation is proposed. From this model, the maximum allowable lactic acid concentration above which growth stops and the lactic acid level above which bacteria stop producing lactic acid were found to be 45 g dm−3 and 57 g dm−3, respectively. © 1997 SCI.