SELECTION OF A CATION-EXCHANGE RESIN TO PRODUCE LACTIC-ACID SOLUTIONSFROM WHEY FERMENTATION BROTHS

Lactic acid can be made by fermentation from inexpensive cheese whey. The acid is at present fairly costly, however, partly because of the c osts of recovery and purification of the acid from the fementation bro ths. The present study has been undertaken to investigate a process th at might reduce these costs. A number of commercial resins have been e valuated as ion exchangers for the production of lactic acid solutions . Amberlite IR-120, a gel strong cationic ion exchanger, was found to be the best resin. The loaded resin was regenerated efficiently. The r esults suggest that such a process is both technically and economicall y feasible.