Effect of nitrogen sources and neutralizing agents on D-lactic acid production from Kodo millet bran hydrolysate:...

D-lactic acid (DLA) serves as a key monomer enhancing both the mechanical and thermal properties of Poly(lactic) acid films and coatings, extensively used in the food packaging industry. Economically viable production of optically pure DLA by Lactobacillus delbrueckii NBRC3202 was achieved using a low-cost carbon source, Kodo millet bran residue hydrolysate (KMBRH) and nitrogen source (casein enzyme hydrolysate (CEH) resulting in a high DLA yield of 0.99 g g^-1 and KMBRH conversion to final product (95.3%). The optimum values for kinetic parameters viz., specific growth rate (0.11 h^-1), yield coefficient of biomass on KMBRH (0.10 g g^-1) and DLA productivity (0.45 g L^-1 h^-1) were achieved at 5 g L^-1 of CEH dosage under controlled pH environment. A comparative study and kinetic analysis of different neutralizing agents (NaOH, NH₃, CaCO₃ and NaHCO₃) under pH controlled environment for KMBRH based DLA production was addressed effectively through bioreactor scale experiments. Maximum cell concentration (1.29 g L^-1) and DLA titer (45.08 g L^-1) were observed with NH₃ as a neutralizing agent. Kinetic analysis of DLA production under different neutralization agents demonstrated that the logistic derived model predicted biomass growth, KMBRH consumption and DLA production efficiently (R ² > 0.92).