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Effect of propionic acid on citric acid fermentation in an integrated citric acid–methane fermentation process

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Abstract

In this study, an integrated citric acid-methane fermentation process was established to solve the problem of wastewater treatment in citric acid production. Citric acid wastewater was treated through anaerobic digestion and then the anaerobic digestion effluent (ADE) was further treated and recycled for the next batch citric acid fermentation. This process could eliminate wastewater discharge and reduce water resource consumption. Propionic acid was found in the ADE and its concentration continually increased in recycling. Effect of propionic acid on citric acid fermentation was investigated, and results indicated that influence of propionic acid on citric acid fermentation was contributed to the undissociated form. Citric acid fermentation was inhibited when the concentration of propionic acid was above 2, 4, and 6 mM in initial pH 4.0, 4.5 and, 5.0, respectively. However, low concentration of propionic acid could promote isomaltase activity which converted more isomaltose to available sugar, thereby increasing citric acid production. High concentration of propionic acid could influence the vitality of cell and prolong the lag phase, causing large amount of glucose still remaining in medium at the end of fermentation and decreasing citric acid production.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Research and Innovation Program for Graduate Students of Jiangsu Province (KYLX15-1144). We thank the Yixing Xielian Biological Chemical Co. Ltd., China for their support and anonymous reviewers for critically evaluating this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, 214122, China

    Jian Xu, Jia-Wei Bao, Xian-Feng Su, Hong-Jian Zhang, Xin Zeng, Lei Tang, Ke Wang, Jian-Hua Zhang, Xu-Sheng Chen & Zhong-Gui Mao

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  1. Jian Xu
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  2. Jia-Wei Bao
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  3. Xian-Feng Su
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  4. Hong-Jian Zhang
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  7. Ke Wang
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  8. Jian-Hua Zhang
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  9. Xu-Sheng Chen
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  10. Zhong-Gui Mao
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Correspondence to Zhong-Gui Mao.

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Xu, J., Bao, JW., Su, XF. et al. Effect of propionic acid on citric acid fermentation in an integrated citric acid–methane fermentation process. Bioprocess Biosyst Eng 39, 391–400 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-015-1522-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-015-1522-4

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