Amylolytic bacteria producing lactic acid

Eight starch hydrolyzing and lactic acid producing strains have been isolated from corn starch processing industrial wastes. The isolates are anaerobic, Gram positive, non-spore forming and rod shaped bacteria having growth at 15 degrees C with extracellular amylolytic activity. Based on these features the isolates have been identified as Lactobacillus amylophilus. Among these, three strains GV6, GV7 and GV8, produce 9.1, 8.8 and 8.1 g/L lactic acid from 9.3, 9.2 and 8.7 g/L soluble starch respectively. The growth is observed at a wide range of temperature and pH, with an optimum temperature of 40 degrees C and pH 6.0. The conversion of starch to lactic acid by the isolates would reduce the cost of hydrolysis of starch to glucose, prior to fermentation.