Economical succinic acid production from cane molasses by Actinobacillus succinogenes

In this work, production of succinic acid by Actinobacillus succinogenes CGMCC1593 using cane molasses as a low cost carbon source was developed. In anaerobic bottles fermentation, succinic acid concentration of 50.6 +/- 0.9 g l(-1) was attained at 60 It using an optimum medium containing molasses pretreated with sulfuric acid, resulting in a succinic acid yield of 79.5 +/- 1.1% and sugar utilization of 97.1 +/- 0.6%. When batch fermentation was carried out in a 5-l stirred bioreactor with pretreated molasses, 46.4 g l(-1) of succinic acid was attained at 48 h and faster cells growth was also observed. Fed batch fermentation was performed to minimize the substrate (sugar) inhibition effect, giving 55.2 g l(-1) of succinic acid and 1.15 g l(-1) h(-1) of productivity at 48 h. The present study suggests that the inexpensive cane molasses could be utilized for the economical and efficient production of succinic acid by A. succinogenes. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.