Efficient calcium lactate production by fermentation coupled with crystallization-based in situ product removal

• Fermentation with in situ product removal (ISPR) was used to produce calcium lactate.
• The ISPR technique used in this study was based on calcium lactate crystallization.
• Fermentation with ISPR produced 74.4% more l-lactic acid than with fed-batch method.
• Fermentation with the ISPR technique resulted in 1.7 times higher productivity.

Lactic acid is a platform chemical with various industrial applications, and its derivative, calcium lactate, is an important food additive. Fermentation coupled with in situ product removal (ISPR) can provide more outputs with high productivity. The method used in this study was based on calcium lactate crystallization. Three cycles of crystallization were performed during the fermentation course using a Bacillus coagulans strain H-1. As compared to fed-batch fermentation, this method showed 1.7 times higher average productivity considering seed culture, with 74.4% more l-lactic acid produced in the fermentation with ISPR. Thus, fermentation coupled with crystallization-based ISPR may be a biotechnological alternative that provides an efficient system for production of calcium lactate or lactic acid.