Production of d-lactic acid by Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. delbrueckii from orange peel waste: techno-economical assessment of nitrogen sources

In this study, the effect of several organic nitrogen sources (namely peptone, meat extract—ME, yeast extract—YE, and corn steep liquor—CSL) on d-lactic acid production by Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. delbrueckii has been studied. While lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are well-known for their complex nutritional requirements, organic nitrogen source-related cost can be as high as 38% of total operational costs (OPEX), being its nature and concentration critical factors in the growth and productivity of the selected strain. Corn steep liquor (CSL) has been chosen for its adequacy, on the grounds of the d-lactic acid yield, productivity, and its cost per kilogram of product. Finally, orange peel waste hydrolysate supplemented with 37 g/l CSL has been employed for d-lactic acid production, reaching a final yield of 88% and a productivity of 2.35 g/l h. CSL cost has been estimated at 90.78$/ton of d-lactate.