# Lactic Acid Production from Sugarcane Bagasse Hydrolysates by Lactiplantibacillus Strains

## TL;DR

This study explores using sugarcane bagasse waste to produce lactic acid through fermentation by Lactiplantibacillus bacteria, offering a sustainable industrial solution.

## Contribution

The study identifies Lactiplantibacillus pentosus ATCC 8041 as a strain capable of efficiently fermenting both pentoses and hexoses from sugarcane bagasse hydrolysates.

## Key findings

- Lactiplantibacillus pentosus ATCC 8041 achieved an LA yield of 0.78 g/g and a maximum LA concentration of 28.99 g/L in total hydrolysate media.
- The strain could assimilate xylose in the presence of glucose, demonstrating versatility in sugar utilization.
- Hemicellulosic hydrolysate yielded a maximum LA concentration of 2.4 g/L with a yield of 0.65 g/g.

## Abstract

Lactic acid (LA) is a valuable organic acid widely used
in many
industries and bioplastics production. It can be produced by microbial
fermentation of sugarcane bagasse (SCB), an abundant sugar industry
waste rich in cellulose and hemicellulose. The aim of this study was
to evaluate the ability of lactic acid bacteria to ferment pentoses
from SCB hydrolysates for LA production in the presence or absence
of hexoses. Initially, nine strains of Lactiplantibacillus spp. were screened for efficient xylose consumption.
Subsequently, fermentation assays with the selected strain were performed
in 2 L bioreactors using MRS-based media containing either hemicellulosic
or total hydrolysates obtained from steam-exploded SCB. Among the
nine strains, Lactiplantibacillus pentosus (L. pentosus) ATCC 8041 demonstrated
superior xylose assimilation and LA production. Additionally, this
strain was capable of consuming xylose in the presence of glucose,
achieving an LA yield of 0.78 g/g and a maximum LA concentration of
28.99 g/L for MRSTH media. The MRSHEM was highly
diluted, resulting in a maximum LA concentration and yield of 2.4
and 0.65 g/g, respectively. These results highlight the potential
of L. pentosus ATCC 8041 to utilize
both hemicellulose and cellulose fractions of SCB, offering promising
avenues for sustainable lactic acid production from agroindustrial
residues.