D-(−)-Lactic acid production from cellobiose and cellulose by Lactobacillus lactis mutant RM2-24

Lactobacillus lactis mutant RM2-24 utilizes cellobiose efficiently, converting it into D-(−)-lactic acid. Cellobiose-degrading enzyme activities were determined for whole cells, cell extracts and disrupted cells. Aryl-β-glucosidase activity was detected in whole cells and disrupted cells, suggesting that these activities are confined to the cells. The mutant produced 80 g l−1 of lactic acid from 100 g l−1 of cellobiose with 1.66 g l−1 h−1 productivity. Production of D-lactic acid from different cellulose samples was also studied. The cellulose samples at high concentration (10%) were hydrolyzed by cellulase enzyme preparation (10 FPU g−1 cellulose) derived from Penicillium janthinellum mutant EU1 generated in our own laboratory. We obtained a maximum 72% hydrolysis, yielding glucose and cellobiose as the main end products. Lactic acid was produced from these cellulose samples by simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) in a media containing a cellulase enzyme preparation derived from Penicillium janthinellum mutant EU1 and cellobiose utilizing Lactobacillus lactis mutant RM2-24. A maximum lactic acid concentration of 73 g l−1 was produced from a concentration of 100 g l−1 of bagasse-derived cellulose, the highest productivity and yield being 1.52 g l−1 h−1 and 0.73 g g−1, respectively. Considering that bagasse is a waste material available in abundance, we propose to use this biomass to produce cellulose and then sugars, which can be fermented to valuable products such as ethanol and lactic acid.