EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES ON L- LACTIC ACID FROM GROUNDNUT SHELLS BY USING LACTOBACILLUS delbrueckii NCIM 2025 AFTER PRE TREATMENT.

In pursuit of selecting cheap raw material for producing lactic acid by fermentation ground nut shells were chosen as substrate. However there is no much relevant information was available on fermentation of ground nut shells. The experimental studies on production of L lactic acid were explored, by solid state fermentation. The experiments on groundnut shells were carried out, as substrate which was one of the cheapest raw materials available in India. The ground nut shells were pretreated with dilute acid (HCl&H2SO4), sodium sulphite, NaOH and methanol solvent extraction methods for producing total sugar. It was observed at temperatures ie., at 350C,370C and 420C, different inoculums size(3ml to 6ml) and different pHs(4.5 to 5.5), the lactic acid production is 12 g/l, `17 g/l and 23.0 g/l respectively. Lactic acid was estimated by AC Kimberley Taylor method. The mutant cells were tested for its stability on 0.6% Allyl alcohol , which was a selection agent. Mutants were generated by exposing to UV radiations, with different exposure times and stability is tested. The results were encouraging and the lactic acid produced was about 23 g/l at temperature of 420C. The pH optimum was found to be about 5.2. and inoculum size was found to be 3 ml. The present studies were focused on accumulation of lactic acid by using ground nut shells having ligno cellulosic material after treatment with dilute acid.