Vitamin B12 production from crude glycerol by Propionibacterium freudenreichii ssp. shermanii: Optimization of medium composition through statistical experimental designs

A two-step statistical experimental design was employed to optimize the medium for vitamin B12 production from crude glycerol by Propionibacterium freudenreichii ssp. shermanii. In the first step, using Plackett–Burman design, five of 13 tested medium components (calcium pantothenate, NaH2PO4·2H2O, casein hydrolysate, glycerol and FeSO4·7H2O) were identified as factors having significant influence on vitamin production. In the second step, a central composite design was used to optimize levels of medium components selected in the first step. Valid statistical models describing the influence of significant factors on vitamin B12 production were established for each optimization phase. The optimized medium provided a 93% increase in final vitamin concentration compared to the original medium.

► Production of vitamin B12 using crude glycerol from biodiesel industry is examined.
► We apply statistical experiment design to optimize culture medium composition.
► Factors influencing vitamin B12 production and interactions between them are studied.
► Medium optimization caused a significant increase of final vitamin B12 concentration.