<b>Inoculum concentration and inoculation time for propionic acid production from whey using mixed culture of <i>Lactobacillus helveticus</i> and <i>Propionibacterium freudenreichii</i> PS-1

Abstract

ABSTRACT. The production of propionic acid using skim serum by-products of the dairy industry was investigated, and the influence of inoculum concentration of Propionibacterium freudenreichii PS-1 and its time of inoculation for the production of propionic acid was evaluated using mixed culture of Lactobacillus helveticus and Propionibacterium freudenreichii. Initially, the adjustment of propionic bacteria to higher concentrations of propionic acid was tested and kinetic parameters were determined for growth. A central composite rotational design (CCRD) with 11 experiments was carried out, using different inoculum concentrations of P. freudenreichii, which were added to the cultures of lactic bacteria at different times. The maximum specific growth rate for P. freudenreichii decreased from 0.11 to 0.03 hour and inoculation time of P. freudenreichii after 6 hours. Therefore, it was demonstrated that skimmed whey can be used as a renewable, low-cost raw material for propionic acid production by mixed culture.