[Recycle of spent cells from anaerobic succinate fermentation]

Spent cells recovered from anaerobic fermentation by Actinobacillus succinogenes were used as nitrogen source for succinic acid production. Three methods were investigated for cell wall-breaking. The results showed that enzymatic hydrolysis was more effective for higher succinic acid yield. When the enzymatic hydrolysate of spent cells was added to reach a total nitrogen concentration 1.11 g/L (equivalent to 10 g/L yeast extract), the succinic acid concentration was 42.0 g/L, but it increased slightly when enhancing the level of enzymatic hydrolysate. However, when 5 g/L yeast extract was supplemented with the enzymatic hydrolysate of spent cells, the succinic acid concentration reached 75.5 g/L after 36 hours and, the succinic acid productivity was 2.10 g/(L x h), which increased by 66.7% compared with the fermentation using 10 g/L yeast extract. Therefore, enzymatic hydrolysate of spent cells could replace 50% yeast extract in the original medium for succinic acid production.