CONTINUOUS FERMENTATION METHOD FOR PRODUCING 2-KETO-L-GULONIC ACID FROM D-SORBITOL

摘要

PURPOSE: The aim is to provide a method to produce D-keto-L-gulonic acid(2-KGA) or its salt which is valuable intermediates for preparing ascorbic acid from D-sorbitol by continuous culture. CONSTITUTION: D-sorbitol is fermented with microorganism such as genus of Gluconobacter or Acetobacter, preferably Glucobacter suboxidans(IFO 3291), to produce L-sorbose in the first fermenter(13.001). Before transferring the fermented extract containing L-sorbose into the second fermenter(13.002) the extract needs to be sterilized by heating up to 35-121C, preferably 45-80C(16.001). The extract containing L-sorbose is fermented with Gluconobacter oxidans(DSM 4025) to produce (2-KGA) in the second fermentation chamber.