Bacillus sp. strain P38: An efficient producer of l-lactate from cellulosic hydrolysate, with high tolerance for 2-furfural

In this study, efficient polymer-grade l-lactic acid production was achieved with the strain Bacillus sp. P38 by using cellulosic hydrolysate as the sole carbon source. In fed-batch fermentation, 180 g L−1 l-lactic acid was obtained with a volumetric productivity of 2.4 g L−1 h−1 and a yield of 0.96 g g−1 total reducing sugars. No d-isomer of lactic acid was detected in the broth. Strain P38 tolerated up to 10 g L−1 2-furfural, and lactate production was sharply inhibited only when the 2-furfural concentration was higher than 6 g L−1. Moreover, strain P38 also tolerated high concentrations (>6 g L−1) of other fermentation inhibitors in cellulosic hydrolysate, such as vanillin and acetic acid, although it was slightly sensitive to formic acid. The efficient l-lactic acid production, combined with high inhibitor tolerance and efficient pentose utilization, indicate that Bacillus sp. P38 is a promising producer of polymer-grade l-lactic acid from cellulosic biomass.