Fed-batch coculture of Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens with Saccharomyces cerevisiae for effective production of kefiran

In a batch coculture of kefiran-producing lactic acid bacteria Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens and lactate-assimilating yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, lactate accumulation in the medium was observed, which inhibited kefiran production. To enhance kefiran productivity by preventing lactate accumulation, we conducted lactose-feeding batch operation with feedforward/feedback control during the coculture, so that the lactate production rate of L. kefiranofaciens was balanced with the lactate consumption rate of S. cerevisiae. The lactate concentration was maintained at less than 6 g l−1 throughout the fed-batch coculture using a 5 l jar fermentor, although the concentration reached 33 g l−1 in the batch coculture. Kefiran production was increased to 6.3 g in 102 h in the fed-batch coculture, whereas 4.5 g kefiran was produced in 97 h in the batch coculture. The kefiran yield on lactose basis was increased up to 0.033 g g−1 in the fed-batch coculture, whereas that in the batch coculture was 0.027 g g−1.