LACTATE FROM CULTURES OF LACTOBACILLUS-CASEI RECOVERED IN A FLUIDIZED-BED COLUMN USING ION-EXCHANGE RESIN

Lactic acid produced by continuous culture of L. casei in an upflow pa cked bed reactor, was recovered with Amberlite IRA 400 in a fluidized bed column. Bed expansions of 1.25 and 2.25 were applied. Reutilizatio n did not alter the capability of net recovery of 0.048 +/- 0.01 g lac tic acid/g resin. When 2200 cm/h of ascensional velocity was used, (be d expansion of 2.25), the resin adsorbed 39.3% of the initial lactic a cid and 63.5% was eluted. This resin supported the highest exchange ca pacity of 0.126 g lactic acid/g resin. Applying high flow rates, the p rocess has potential industrial applications due to the short lime emp loyed.