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Effects of Pellet Characteristics on L-Lactic Acid Fermentation by R. oryzae: Pellet Morphology, Diameter, Density, and Interior Structure

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Abstract

The effects of pellet morphology, diameter, density, and interior structure on L-lactic acid fermentation by Rhizopus oryzae were characterized for different inoculum sizes and concentrations of peptone and CaCO3. Inoculum size was the most important factor determining pellet formation and diameter. The diameter decreased with increasing inoculum size, and larger pellets were observed for lower inoculum sizes. Peptone concentration had the greatest effect on pellet density, which increased with increasing peptone concentration. L-lactic acid production depended heavily on pellet density but not on pellet diameter. Low-density pellets formed easily under conditions of low peptone concentration and often had a relatively hollow structure, with a thin condensed layer surrounding the pellet and an extraordinarily loose biomass or hollow center. As expected, this structure greatly decreased production. The production of L-lactic acid increased until the density reached a certain level (50–60 kg/m3), in which the compact part was distributed homogeneously in the thick outer layer of the pellet and loose in the central layer. Homogeneously structured, denser pellets had limited mass transfer, causing a lower overall turnover rate. However, the interior structure remained nearly constant throughout all fermentation phases for pellets with the same density. CaCO3 concentration only had a slight influence on pellet diameter and density, probably because it increases spore germination and filamentous hypha extension. This work also provides a new analysis method to quantify the interior structure of pellets, thus giving insight into pellet structure and its relationship with productivity.

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 21106091), Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (LQ12B06004), and the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2011AA02A206).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biomass Resources, Key Laboratory of Plant Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation, Taizhou University, Jiaojiang, 318000, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China

    Yong-Qian Fu, Long-Fei Yin, Hua-Yue Zhu & Ru Jiang

  2. State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing University of Technology, Nanjing, 210009, People’s Republic of China

    Yong-Qian Fu, Shuang Li & Qing Xu

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  1. Yong-Qian Fu
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  2. Long-Fei Yin
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  5. Shuang Li
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  6. Qing Xu
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Correspondence to Yong-Qian Fu.

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Fu, YQ., Yin, LF., Zhu, HY. et al. Effects of Pellet Characteristics on L-Lactic Acid Fermentation by R. oryzae: Pellet Morphology, Diameter, Density, and Interior Structure. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 174, 2019–2030 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-014-1146-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-014-1146-1

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