CITRIC ACID PRODUCTION BY Aspergillus niger REPEAT· BATCH CULTURE USING A . PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS EXTRACT MEDIUM

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

King Khalid University. College of Science. Biological Science Dept. Abha P.O.Box 9004. Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The potential of prickly pear cactus extract as a fermentation medium for
citric acid production by batch and repeat-batch cultures of Asp < /em>ergillus niger isolated
from three locations of Aseer, Saudi Arabia was investigated. Among the 23 isolated
cultures of Aspergillus niger, the isolate J6 which obtained from Jazan was found to
be enhance citric acid production. Maximum citric acid production (61.56 g/L)was
obtained after 8 days of cultivation with an initial pH 4 and 20 % sugar concentration.
Better results were achieved when applying repeat-batch culture than batch
cultivation. The culture was retained their activity for 24 days of fermentation period
and the concentration of citric acid was remained constant during recycle of biomass
up to the third batch. A total amount of citric acid of 244.75 g was obtained after five
repeated batch-cultivation. On the basis of the experimental results, it was suggested
that the prickly pear cactus extract can serve as a low-cost fermentation medium for
citric acid production using Aspergillus nigar repeat batch-culture.
Journal of Agricultural Chemistry and Biotechnology
Volume 28, Issue 7
July 2003
Pages 5653-5660

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