Optimización de la producción de ácido láctico por Lactobacillus plantarum cepa Hui1 en un medio que contiene melaza de caña

The aim of this study was to optimize lactic acid production by a native strain (Hui1) of Lactobacillus plantarum isolated from a Peruvian Amazon fruit (Genipa americana) in a medium supplemented with an agroindustrial by-product such as sugar cane molasses. Optimization was performed though one-factor-at-a-time studies followed by the Placket-Burman and central composite designs. The data were analyzed by using the Statistica® 10 software. Several carbon, nitrogen and ion sources were tested, and the optimum concentration of lactic acid achieved was 84.2 g L-1 in a medium containing as follows (in g L-1): meat extract, 18.69; tryptone, 7.88; sugar cane molasses, 140; calcium carbonate, 15; dipotassium phosphate, 1; manganese phosphate, 0.03; sodium acetate, 5, and magnesium sulphate, 0.2. In addition, a high degree of conversion from sugar cane molasses to lactic acid was obtained (Yp/s 0.898 g g-1). These results indicate the potential of Lactobacillus plantarum strain Hui1 to produce lactic acid in a medium supplemented with sugar cane molasses, an underutilized industrial by-product.