Isolation, characterization and evolution of a new thermophilic Bacillus licheniformis for lactic acid production in mineral salts medium

► We isolated a new Bacillus licheniformis BL1. ► BL1 can ferment 13 different carbon sources to l-lactate at high temperature. ► BL1 was evolved in xylose and mineral salts medium respectively to get mutant BL2 and BL3. ► BL3 can efficiently ferment glucose and xylose to lactate in strict mineral salts at 50-55 °C. ► BL3 has great potential to lower the lactate cost in lignocelluloses hydrolysis fermentation.