Citric acid production with alginate bead entrappedAspergillus niger ATCC 9142.

ABSTRACT

Aspergillus niger ATCC 9142 mycelium was entrapped in calcium alginate beads and employed in an air-lift completely stirred reactor for continuous production of citric acid. Maximum yield obtained from 10% (w/v) sucrose was 12 g dm(-3) with about 40% fermentation efficiency. Maximum rate of production 70 mg g(-1) h(-1) was about five times that obtained in classical batch fermentation.