Effects of medium components on the growth of Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens and succinic acid production

Several factors affecting cell growth and succinic acid production by Anaer obiospirillum succiniciproducens were examined by cultivating cells under v arious conditions. Maximum specific growth rate in the flask cultivation in creased with increasing initial glucose concentration up to 20 g/l glucose. The distribution of fermentation products was not affected by glucose conc entration, and the ratio of fermentation products (g-acetic acid/g-succinic acid) was similar (1:4) for all glucose concentrations. Other carbon sourc es including lactose, sucrose, maltose, and fructose could be utilized by A . succiniciproducens. Cell concentration and the amount of succinic acid at tainable was dependent on the inoculum size. Sodium ion was essential for c ell growth and succinic acid production, and its optimum concentration was 4 g/l. Cell growth and succinic acid production were slightly enhanced at t he optimum magnesium ion concentration of 0.4 g/l. Among the seven differen t complex nitrogen sources examined by Plackett-Burman design, only poylpep tone enhanced succinic acid production. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.