Purification of lactic acid obtained from a fermentative process of cassava syrup using ion exchange resins

Purificación de ácido láctico obtenido a partir de un proceso fermentativo de jarabe de yuca, empleando resinas de intercambio iónico

Joan Quintero¹, Alejandro Acosta¹, Carlos Mejía¹, Rigoberto Ríos¹, Ana María Torres^3*

¹Grupo de Biotransformation. Escuela de Microbiología, Universidad de Antioquia, Calle 67 N°. 53-108, bloque 5, oficina 226. Medellín, Colombia.

²Grupo de Bioprocesos. Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Antioquia. Calle 67 N°. 53-108, bloque 18, oficina 439. Medellín, Colombia.

^*Autor de correspondencia: teléfono: + 57 + 4 + 219 85 90, correo electrónico: atorres@udea.edu.co (A. Torres)

(Recibido el 10 de enero de 2012. Aceptado 6 de noviembre de 2012)

Abstract

In this work, the fermentative lactic acid (LA) production and its further separation by ionic exchange resins was evaluated. A Lactobacillus brevis strain was used to perform lab scale experiments under anaerobic conditions, using a low nutritional content media with cassava flour as carbon source (HY1). For a fermentation time of 120h in a 7.5-L bioreactor, the LA concentration was 24.3±0.07g LA/L and productivity 0.20 g/L/h, at pH 6.5 and 38°C.

For LA recovery, the Amberlite IRA-400 and IR-120 exchange resins were used. First of all, a LA isothermal adsorption on Amberlite IRA-400, Cl^-, OH^- and HS0₄^2- activated form, was performed at 25°C. The Cl^- activated resin was tested at pH 5, whereas the OH^- activated form was tested at pH 3.5 and 6.3. The highest adsórbate content was 0.59±0.03 g LA/g resin at pH 6.3 when the resin was OH^- activated. Following, the breakthrough curves were carried out in an Amberlite IRA-400 packed column at pH 3 and 5, and 0.5 and lmL/min; the maximum LA loaded was 0.109±0.005 g AL/g resin at pH 3 and 0.5 mL/min. Finally, the LA recovery was assessed in a system of series of columns packed with Amberlite IRA-400 e IR-120; the LA recovery was 77% and 73%, when the system was set at 0.5mL/min, 25°C, and a feeding at pH 3 and 5, respectively, into the packed columns.

Keywords: Lactic acid, Lactobacillus brevis, ionic exchange resins, adsorption isotherms

Resumen

Para la recuperación del AL se usaron las resinas de intercambio iónico Amberlite IRA-400 e IR-120. Inicialmente se determinó la isoterma de adsorción de AL (25°C) sobre la resina Amberlite IRA-400 activada en su forma Cl^-, OH^- y HSO₄^2-. La forma Cl^- de la resina activada fue evaluada a pH 5, mientras que la forma OH fue evaluada a pH 3,5 y 6,3. El más alto contenido de adsorbato fue 0,59±0,03g AL/g resina at pH 6,3, cuando la resina esta activada en su forma OH-. Seguidamente, se desarrollaron las curvas de ruptura en la resina Amberlite IRA-400 a pH 3 y 5, y 0,5 y 1mL/ min de flujo de alimentación. La máxima concentración de AL adsorbida fue 0,109±0,005g AL/g resina a pH 3 y 0,5 mL/min. Finalmente, la recuperación de AL se evaluó en un sistema de columnas en serie empacadas con las resinas Amberlite IRA-400 e IR-120; La recuperación de AL fue 77% y 73%, cuando el sistema se ajustó en 0,5mL/min, 25°C, pH 3 y 5, respectivamente.

Palabras clave: Ácido láctico, Lactobacillus brevis, resinas de intercambio iónico, isotermas de adsorción

Introduction

Lactic acid (LA) production has been a topic of continuous interest mainly due to its wide variety of applications, not only the acid itself but its derivatives. Among others, LA has been extensively used in food, textile, and pharmaceutical industry [1] and more recently, its demand has dramatically increased for poly- lactic acid (PLA) production, where it is used as a monomer [2, 3], The LA market is continuously growing; it has been estimated that its worldwide demand ranges from 130000 to 150000 ton/year (approx. U$ 68 million per year) [4].

Even though LA production started 100 years ago, research in this field is very active, mainly, due to new LA applications and the need for lower production and recovery costs that still are indeed high at large scale.

Biotechnological production of LA employs mainly saccharose and glucose as carbon source; however, due to the high-quality sugar's cost, different studies, aim at evaluating cheaper sources such as cassava syrup, are carried out.

One of the most widely used LA separation and purification techniques is ionic exchange resins since the required equipment is relatively simple and inexpensive [14]; its use is specially recommended when the LA solution has low salt concentration [15]. The process involves cationic exchange resins for Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ removal, and the anionic type for eliminating chlorine and sulfate. Commercial resins such as Amberlite IRA-420 [16], IRA-400 [17], DOWEX-50W [13] and PVP [18] are currently available. The LA recovery and purification process using ion exchange resins can be described in three different steps: lactate ion adsorption, elution, and lactate conversion to its acid form [11].

Materials and methods

Microorganism, culture medium and lactic acid production

A Lactobacillus brevis strain was used. Cryogenic vials with a high nutritional content medium (MRS) [g/L]: glucose: 100, peptone: 10, yeast extract: 10, meat extract: 10, K₂HPO₄: 2, sodium acetate: 5, ammonium citrate: 2, MgSO₄.7H₂O: 0.2, MnS0₄.H₂0: 0.05 and 30% glycerol, were used for strain conservation at -4°C. The strain was maintained in Petri dishes with MRS medium and 1% agar at 4°C, and subcultured every other month.

Inoculums for bioreactor operation were grown in a low nutritional content medium with cassava flour as the unique carbon source, named HY. whose composition was [g/L]: reducing sugars from enzymatic hydroxylation of cassava flour: 30, yeast extract: 15, KH₂PO₄: 5.6, K₂HPO₄: 4.16; initial pH set at 5.5. Operating conditions for inoculums were set at 38°C, 150 rpm and 24h. The culture medium used for LA production in bioreactor was the HY1 medium which includes [g/L]: reducing sugars from enzymatic hydroxylation of cassava flour: 100, yeast extract: 15, KH₂P0₄: 5.6, K₂HP0₄: 4.16; initial pH was set at 6.5. LA biosynthesis was carried out in a 7.5-L bioreactor, containing 5-L of culture media. (BioFlo/CelliGen 115-New Brunswick). Operating conditions were set at 38°C, 200rpm for 120h. Inoculum preparation consisted of 490mL of medium HY. For pH control, NaOH 2N y H₃P0₄ 8.5% solutions were used. Experiments were performed with one replicate.

LA separation and purification techniques

LA recovery using ion exchange resins Amberiite IRA- 400 and IR-120

For resin activation Anionic Amberiite IRA-400 was converted into its three forms: OH^-, CI^- and HS0₄^2-, following the protocol reported by Moldes et al. [11], Once activated, resins were exposed to dryness (60°C, 12h). Cationic resin Amberiite IR-120 was converted into its H+ form as described by Vaccari et ai. [19]. Once activated, it was exposed to dryness (60°C, 12h). Each ionic Amberiite IRA-400 resin form (1g), was tested with an LA solution (34g/L) prepared with residual fermentation broth, pH 5. Samples were incubated at 25°C, 150rpm for 12h (this time was set up based on previous experiments, data not shown). Following, LA concentration was determined by HPLC and adsorbed LA was calculated by mass balances. Assays for this and the remaining experiments were performed by triplicate.

Isothermal adsorption for the ionic resin Amberlite IRA-400

Yield and breakthrough curves in an Amberiite IRA-400 resin

For analyzing the adsorption process behavior in a continuous system, a glass column (1cmx40cm) was packed with 18g of dry resin into its OH^- form. Following, an LA solution with a concentration corresponding to that of the fermentation process was passed through until resin saturation. Eluent was continuously sampled to determine LA concentration by a colorimetric enzymatic assay (Roche). Two pH levels (3 and 5) and two flow rates (0.5 and 1 mL/min) were studied by a factorial experimental design 2x2. In an attempt for evaluating the adverse consequence of the remaining culture media components, assays with an aqueous LA solution (0.5mL/min; pH 3) were performed. LA acid solution were prepared using a commercial 88% LA (Carlo Erba)

Eluent selection for lactate ion recovery in an Amberiite IRA-400 resin

Seven grams of resin were saturated with lactate ions coming from a concentrated LA solution, during 12h at 150rpm and 25°C. Next, 10mL solutions of eluents (HC1 0.1N, CH₃OH 10%, H₂S0₄ 1M, NaCl 1M, NaOH IN) were prepared and inoculated with 0.5g of the saturated resin. The solutions were incubated at 150 rpm and 25 °C for 12h; afterwards, LA concentration in the resulting solutions was determined by a colorimetric enzymatic assay (Roche).

LA recovery and purification by using the Amberiite IRA-400 and IR-120 resins, arranged in series

A first glass column (lcmx40cm) was packed with 18g of Amberiite IRA-400 resin and fed with a fermentative LA solution at pH and flow rate set up according to the yield and breakthrough assays. The column was washed with distilled water and fed with NaOH IN for the purpose of ion lactate recovery. In order to recover the lactate ion as lactic acid, the eluent coming out from this first column was added to a second glass column (lcmx40cm), packed with 20g of the cationic Amberlite IR-120 resin. Distilled water was passed through both columns for 30min; then, the cationic resin was activated by means of addition of a 50mL solution of HCl 1N. Samples were sequentially taken from the second column for LA enzymatic determination. Sulfate was also determined, both, prior to the resin purification and after resin exposure. The feeding process was repeated by passing spent fermentation broth through the first column looking for identifying resin activity lost.

Analytical methods

LA was measured by HPLC using a C-610H column with 7.8mm ID, and 30cm length; H₃PO₄ at 0.1% and 0.5ml/min as the mobile phase, UV detection at 210nm, and 30°C [20], LA was also determined by a colorimetric enzymatic assay (Roche). Sulfate concentration was evaluated by a turbidimetric method 4500 SO4 E [2].

Results and discussion

Lactic acid production

The genus Lactobacillus has been widely known as the major LA producer strain. For the purpose of this work, a Lactobacillus brevis strain was used; it can be stated that cassava flour, the main component for the HY1 medium, is an appropriate substrate for LA biosynthesis. In addition to reducing sugars, cassava flour has salts, aminoacids and proteins that might favor bacterial growth and product biosynthesis. Figure 1 shows the obtained profile for LA accumulation over a 120h of cultivation.

The largest LA accumulation, reached at 120h, was 24.3±3.0 g/L; this value is comparable to most literature reports. For substrates such as glucose, corn flour, sawdust, molasses, whey, among others, LA production ranges from 1 to 100 g/L, using commercial strains such as Lb. plantarum, Lb. casei, Lb. delbrueckii, Lb. helveticus, etc [1]. Siebold et al. [21] and Kious et al. [22] did report LA production close to 26.8–27.8 g/L and 13.3-19.6 g/L, respectively, using glucose as the only substrate.

Separation and purification

LA recovery by using ionic exchange resins

Evaluation of the ionic form of the resin Amberlite IRA-400

Since the OH^- ion has a lower MW than CI^-, it establishes weaker bonds with the resin active sites, thus propitiating its displacement by lactate ion, during adsorption. Moldes et al. [11] found adsorption capacities of 0.10 and 0.13g LA adsorbed/g resin, for the Cl^- and OH^- form, respectively. These results are comparable to those found in this work.

On the other hand, the high HSO₄^2- ion MW, which dissociates in S0₄^2- having two charges, leads to the formation of stronger bonds with the resin.

Adsorption isotherms for the anionic Amberlite IRA-400 resin in its Cl^- and OH^- forms

Ion exchange resin adsorption capacity is usually favored by the ion-of-interest valency number, its size and concentration, activity coefficient as well as the active surface of the exchange resin [24].

The figure 2 shows the acquired adsorption isotherms for the Amberlite IRA-400 resin in its Cl^- y OH^- forms.

For the Amberlite IRA-400 resin, a pH below of the lactic acid pKa value (3.86) has a manifest incidence on lactate adsorption. Larger pH values would provoke reduction in acid dissociation, thus affecting the adsorption process.

As it is observed, by comparing the results, at pH 5, the resin in its OH^- activated form has larger lactate ion adsorption capacity (0.41±0.02g LA adsorbed/g resin) than that of the Cl^- form at the same pH (0.35±0.03g LA adsorbed/g resin), mainly due to the lower OH^- ion molecular weight compared to that of the Cl^- ion; this facilitates ion transport from the resin active site. The strength of chemical bonds, formed between the resin active site and the exchange ions, depends on electronegative differences. Due to its smaller atomic ratio, Cl^- ions have higher ionization energy, making stronger chemical bonds and causing difficulties in its displacement.

Where,

q*: Adsorbate per gram of resin in equilibrium with LA, C, in solution [g LA/g resin].

q_F and q_O: Final and initial loading of adsorbate per gram of resin [g LA/g resin].

C_O: LA concentration in the middle point [g/L].

δ_C: Increment value for LA.

The low experimental data adjustment to the Langmuir model gives insights about the resin surface, and allows one to consider it as no plane and/or homogeneous. The kind of interaction between the resin active sites and lactate ions present in the fermentative solution, are not just simple-site type, but acid-base, hydrogen bonds, and/or hydrophobic interactions [13]. Based on the Chenlo et al. [25] classification, the isotherms created for the lactate adsorption in the Amberlite IRA-400 resin, are type V, which means, they are not suitable for the lactate ion loading, but good for the elusion step in a fixed bed system [26].

Breakthrough curves have an initial step of maximum adsorption rate until the resin saturation is reached; after that, the concentration of the target ion noticeably increases in the effluent. The closer operation conditions that did render this trend were pH 5 and 0.5 mL/min; the remaining curves showed a progressive increase of LA concentration in the effluent, perhaps because of the competition that might occur between aminoacid and salts in the spent culture media for interacting with the resin active site. Under similar flow and pH conditions a loading of 0.129g LA/g resin was acquired for the LA aqueous solution, 18.35% higher than that of the spent culture medium (figure 4), with statistical significance (p=0.0029). It was also proved that there exists statistical significance between the evaluated volumetric flow rates with a p value of 0.0021.

For all glass columns, resin loading reached 95% of that of the batch system, for a solution with a concentration equal to the fermentation media; however, as a result of the dilution effect, it just achieved 18.31% of the batch system maximum capacity, being necessary to concentrate the LA solution before it is fed to the ion exchange columns.

Eluent selection for lactate ions recovery

The resin was loaded with 0.332 g LA/g resin. Table 4 shows the results for lactate ion elution in the anionic resin IRA-400. Though there is no statistical significance (p=0.0571) between the acquired results with NaOH IN or H₂S0₄ 1M, it is recommended to use NaOH in order to attend regulatory commission rules such as that of the Food Chemical Codex (FCC), aim at producing LA with low sulfate concentrations [19]. In addition, due to the sulfate ion bivalence properties, it shows higher affinity for the resin active sites limiting future resin applications. The additional evaluated eluents showed lower lactate ion elution which might be the result of its lower adsorption capacity and dielectric constant; the lower the dielectric constant, the higher the limitations of ion transport in solution. In a further process for LA recovery using a system with resins, IRA-400 and IR-120 resins, arranged in series, NaOH IN was used as eluent.

LA recovery in a series of resin - Amberlite IRA-400 and IR-120 – purification system

Table 5 shows the results for LA recovery and purification in a packed system with the ion exchange resins IRA-400 and IR-120, connected in series. Amberlite IRA-400 did not reach saturation due to lack of enough retention time; thus, adsorbed LA concentration was 0.0367 and 0.0160g LA/g resin, for a process at pH 3 and 5, respectively. On the other hand, the washing steps did yield LA losses close to 5 and 8%, when the feeding solution was set to pH 3 and 5, respectively. The anionic resin showed better regeneration capacity at pH 3. LA losses changed from 14.08% in the first cycle to 21.6% in the second, whereas at pH 5, losses changed from 11.4% to 31.73% in the first and second cycle, respectively; this can be explained considering that, in spite of washing, OH^- ions were accumulated favoring the equilibrium reaction towards the complex R-OH generation, instead of lactate ion L-Na⁺ formation.

For the sake of clarity, it is needed to emphasize that the reduction in the Amberlite IRA-400 resin adsorption capacity between the first and second cycle, could be the result of a normal active site activity lost due to usage, without resin physical degradation occurrence, as it has been reported by Avila et al. [27], for these types of resin.

The acquired results endorse the better performance of the ion exchange resin working at pH lower than the LA pKa value. At pH 3, the system showed a higher capacity, approximately 50% higher than that at pH 5; in addition, the process profile showed low LA concentrations in the effluent of the loading step (See figure 5), which is in agreement with the results from the breakthrough curve.

The LA acid purification using ion exchange resins did appear to be a workable alternative, since up to 77% of the LA in the fermentation media was recovered, a value close to that attained from the salt precipitation treatment. Even though it was not promising to concentrate LA in the eluent solution, it was possible to remove macromolecules such as reducing sugars whose content changed from 27.6 g/L in the fermentation broth to 1 g/L in the eluent solution. After resin treatment, a sulfate reduction close to 99.68% was observed; this calls attention to the importance of using ion exchange resins for sulfate removal (sulfate content prior to resin treatment: 16.61±1.65 g/L and after resin treatment: 0.0525±0.002.7 g/L).

Conclusions

LA biosynthesis was accomplished using alternative low-price nutrient-rich substrates such as cassava flour. This kind of substrate showed high nutrient and reducing sugar content as well as calcium and aminoacids, all of them available for the fermentative process.

On the other hand, LA recovery by means of a fixed packed bed, is enhanced by a reduction in the inlet/feeding volumetric flow rate (set to 0.5 mL/min), perhaps because of the higher residence time, allowing longer time of contact between the resin and LA solution phases.

At low scale, ionic exchange systems are suitable for LA purification since, at a low cost, it allows one to remove macromolecules and possibly ions formed during fermentation; the obtained recovery percentages were close to 77 %.

Concentrating the acid before it is actually fed to the ion exchange column would cause reduction in the Amberlite IRA-400 resin capacity. Now, desorbing the acid from the resin at temperature higher than the ambient one, would direct the adsorption equilibrium towards eluent solution, concentrating it and allowing column restoration.

In spite of the good results for LA recovery using ion exchange resins, it is necessary to implement further separation and concentration steps in order to obtain a product that efficiently satisfy the purity requirements for a specific application such as polymerization processes.

Acknowledgements

Authors wish to thank the CODI -Comité para el desarrollo de la Investigacion- Universidad de Antioquia for the financial support of the project MC-07-1-13.

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