Selection of batch process conditions for microbiologicalproduction of lactic acid using waste whey

The research was focused on the selection of the best conditions for the lactic acid production.As the organic source diluted waste whey was used. Two facultative anaerobic bacteria strains wereexamined:Lactobacillus rhamnosusandLactococcus lactis. The neeed of anaerobic conditions as wellas mineral supplementation of cultivation were investigated. It turned out that the oxidation was not thekey parameter, but cultivation medium needed a supplementation for higher process efficiency. Finally,Lactobacillus rhamnosusstrain was selected, for which LA production was app. 45% higher than forLc. lactis. On the other hand,Lactobacillus rhamnosuswas active at higher lactose concentration, thuswaste whey needed to be less diluted. Additionally, high values of product/substrate yield coefficientmake the process very efficient.