GLUCONATE PRODUCTION BY SPORES OF ASPERGILLUS-NIGER

Spores of Aspergillus niger obtained by solid state fermentation on bu ckwheat seeds produced gluconic acid from glucose with a high yield, n ear 1.06 g gluconic acid/g glucose, close to the stoichiometric value. The reaction itself could be carried out either with purified biocata lyst or with the whole buckwheat medium resulting from spore productio n process. 200 g gluconic acid/L were obtained in 200 h with sequentia l feedings of glucose up to 190 g/L.