Estimating the Limiting Rate of Dilution in Technology for Lactic Acid Production by Continuous Fermentation

Abstract

The estimation of the dilution rate in a fermenter is associated with biotechnological features. The time of residence of the stream of substrates in the fermenter should ensure the growth of the microbial population. In other words, if the dilution rate D is higher or equal to the limiting value D_lim, synthesis has no time to take place and, as a consequence, no product (specifically lactic acid) is formed. In this study, as a result of mathematical modeling, the technological parameter D< D_lim has been calculated, which ensures real conditions for the practical implementation of the continuous process of lactic acid production.