Kinetic modeling of hyaluronic acid production in palmyra palm (Borassus flabellifer) based medium by Streptococcus zooepidemicus MTCC 3523

In this study, we evaluated palmyra palm sugar (PJ) formulated medium for HA production using Streptococcus zooepidemicus MTCC 3523. Concurrently, effect of various carbon and nitrogen sources, an analysis of the effect of initial sugar concentration, on HA production were examined. The PJ - soya peptone based medium was found to be the most effective, and resulted in 0.54 ± 0.08 g L-1 of HA titer and specific growth rate of 0.5 ± 0.07 h-1 in shake-flask experiments. Kinetic experiments were performed in a bioreactor, and the initial PJ concentrations were varied from 10 - 50 g L-1. Maximum HA and LA titers (1.22 g L-1 and 20. 2 g L-1) were obtained at 30 g L-1 PJ concentration in bioreactor. Han-Levenspiel substrate inhibition model exhibited best fit for the experimental data. The growth inhibitory PJ concentration was found to be at 90.5 g L-1. Medium based process economic analysis proved PJ and soya peptone based medium as most economical for the production of HA. The present investigation validates the potential of PJ and soya peptone based medium for enhanced economical production of HA. This study will also provide new product dimensions and market avenues, to the marginalized palmyra palm farmers and toddy tapping community, who are unable to secure the right price for their product.