Sugar beet molasses: a sweet solution for ectoine production by Nesterenkonia sp.

ABSTRACT

Ectoine, a biologically significant compound, was successfully produced by a strain of bacteria capable of utilizing sucrose. In a ground-breaking approach, we harnessed the potential of sugar beet molasses, a by-product rich in sucrose, amino acid, and vitamins, as a growth medium for this purpose. Through meticulous investigation, we identified the ideal conditions for maximizing ectoine synthesis. This remarkable milestone was reached by introducing only 1 g of (NH4)2SO4 and 5 mL of molasses per liter, maintaining a pH level of 8.0, upholding a 7.5% NaCl concentration, employing agitation at 120 rpm, and sustaining a temperature of 30 °C. This study marks a pioneering endeavour as it represents the first instance where molasses has been effectively employed to produce ectoine through the cultivation of Nesterenkonia sp. We showcased the production of 75.56 g of the valuable compound ectoine utilizing 1 L of waste molasses with this specific bacterial strain. These findings hold tremendous promise, not only in terms of resource utilization but also for the potential applications of ectoine in various biological contexts.