Extractive L-lactic acid fermentation with immobilized Rhizopus oryzae in a three-phase fluidized bed

The Rhizopus oryzae was immobilized by the calcium alginate entrapment method. A three-phase fluidized-bed bioreactor was designed to perform the immobilized-cell L-lactic acid fermentation. A solvent extraction column was coupled with the bioreactor to remove L-lactic acid from the fermentation broth. The TRPO was selected as solvent and sulfonated kerosene as diluent. The results indicated that the pH value in the broth was regulated above pH 3.5 and the fermentation rate was as high as 11 g L-lactic acid per hour per liter of beads. A mathematical model was proposed to describe the concentration of L-lactic acid in the extractive fermentation.