Extractive fermentation for lactic acid production.

Lactic acid extractive fermentation was demonstrated using Alamine 336 in oleyl alcohol at acidic pH. The use of an efficient extraction system was possible through employment of the cell immobilization procedure. Process modeling was performed to relate the various process parameters such as flow rate, concentration, and pH. In experiments with 15% Alamine 336/oleyl alcohol, the bioreactor operation resulted in a higher productivity (12 g/L gel h) compared to that of a control fermentation (7 g/L gel h). Strategies for optimizing the extractive fermentation process were proposed considering both productivity and product recovery.