Growth of Pediococcus acidilactici on sugar cane blackstrap molasses

RESUMO

Pediococcus acidilactici (IL01) has grown in MRS (Man, Rogosa and Sharpe) broth modified by substitution of glucose by 2.0(per cent) (MRS-2), 3.0(per cent) (MRS-3), 4.0(per cent) (MRS-4) and 5.0 (per cent) (MRS-5) sugar cane blackstrap molasses. The highest acid production was obtained in MRS-5 broth maintained at a constant pH of 5.0. The higest biomass production was obtained when P. acilactici was grown in MRS-5 broth at initial pH6.5, while productivity was higher in MRS-2 broth (28.16per cent). When the MRS-2broth was utilized at initial pH 6.5 for a 20-hour fermentation period, the highest growth rate (dx/dt) was found in a period of 8 to 16 hours (0.290 g cells/L.h), while the specific growth rate (µ) was 0.175 (h-1) for that period, differently from the 0,441 (h-1) obtained for the period comprising the 4th to the 12th hour. The growth in MRS broth was 5.08(per cent) (2.95g/1) higher than in MRS-2 broth (2.80 g/1). The data obtained have shown that P. acidilactici has had a significant growth in molasses as the main carbon source, and that it is possible to substitute MRS glucose by this carbon source with the purpose of obtaining a more economical growth medium for the potential large scale productions.