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The Cultivation, Growth, and Viability of Lactic Acid Bacteria: A Quality Control Perspective
Published on: June 16, 2022
Production of optically pure D-lactic acid by Nannochlorum sp. 26A4
1Advanced Technology Research Center, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., 1-8-1 Sachiura Kanazawa-Ku, Yokohama 236-8515, Japan. shin_hirayama@mhi.co.jp
Abstract:
Microalgae were screened from seawater for greenhouse gas CO2 fixation and D-lactic acid production by self-fermentation and tested for their growth rate, starch content, and conversion rate from starch into D-lactic acid. More than 300 strains were isolated, and some of them were found to have suitable properties for this purpose. One of the best strains, Nannochlorum sp. 26A4, which was isolated from Sakito Island, had a starch content of 40% (dry weight), and a conversion rate from consumed starch into D-lactic acid of 70% in the dark under anaerobic conditions. The produced D-lactic acid showed a high optical purity compared with the conventional one. The proposed new D-lactic acid production system using Nannochlorum sp. 26A4 should also be an effective technology for greenhouse gas CO2 fixation and/or conversion into industrial raw materials.
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