Improving succinic acid production by Actinobacillus succinogenes from raw industrial carob pods

Margarida Carvalho, Christophe Roca, Maria A.M. Reis

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

55 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Carob pods are an inexpensive by-product of locust bean gum industry that can be used as renewable feedstock for bio-based succinic acid. Here, for the first time, unprocessed raw carob pods were used to extract a highly enriched sugar solution, afterwards used as substrate to produce succinic acid using Actinobacillus succinogenes. Batch fermentations containing 30 g/L sugars resulted in a production rate of 1.67 g SA/L.h and a yield of 0.39 g SA/g sugars. Taking advantage of A. succinogenes’ metabolism, uncoupling cell growth from succinic acid production, a fed-batch mode was implemented to increase succinic acid yield and reduce by-products formation. This strategy resulted in a succinic acid yield of 0.94 g SA/g sugars, the highest yield reported in the literature for fed-batch and continuous experiments, while maintaining by-products at residual values. Results demonstrate that raw carob pods are a highly efficient feedstock for bio-based succinic acid production.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)491-497
Number of pages7
JournalBioresource Technology
Volume218
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Oct 2016

Keywords

  • Actinobacillus succinogenes
  • Carob pods
  • Fed-batch fermentation
  • Succinic acid

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