| abstract |
A substantially continuous membrane separation process has been discovered in which the known benefits of a cell-recycle fermentor are unexpectedly enhanced because pH is controlled from 4.0 to 5.5 with a nitrogen-containing base. The ammonium lactate formed is not precipitated, allowing continuous removal of lactic acid so as to maintain a concentration of lactic acid about 12% by wt in the broth. When combined with recycle of UF retentate, operating this cell-recycle fermentor allows the build-up of a cell population in the range from above 5x109 CFU/ml to 5x1010 CFU/ml, which population is much denser than one which can be produced with the specified pH control in a batch fermentor, after self-termination of the fermentation. This super-dense population of cells, In turn, not only accelerates production of lactic acid but also minimizes contamination by foreign cells. UF retentate is recycled to produce a specified high fluid velocity when the effluent stream is flowed over UF membranes used in the UF modules. The high fluid velocity at relatively low pressure produces a scrubbing action over the membrane surfaces which are therefore not fouled over long periods of operation. In a batch fermentation with pH control, when the fermentation is self-terminated the total lactic acid present is about 10% by wt (measured by HPLC), though free lactic acid is always <4%, and the live cell population is lower than 5x109 CFU/ml because many cells die as pH drops. |