11-70: Succinic acid production from sugarcane bagasse by Actinobacillus succinogenes

The succinic acid has a highlight position in context of a chemical industry based on renovable resources because it can be obtained in carbohidrates from a anaerobic fermentation process which has consumption of CO₂, that means a great opportunity to reduce emission of CO₂ obtaining a commercial product. The most important aspect is synthesis possibilities, because acid succinic is able to be a substance commodity. Nowadays the majority of succinic acid produced commercially is made by chemical synthesis. However, attention has been focused on succinic acid production by microorganisms as an alternative to chemical synthesis. The aim of this work was to analyze the optimum operational conditions for the sucinic acid production from sugarcane bagasse by the bacterium Actinobacillus succinogenes. Sugarcane bagasse, a lignocellulosic material, is produced in great amount in Brazil and represents an important source of sugars such as xilose if and extractive process like acid hydrolysis is used.Acid hydrolysis was performed for disorganizing the lignocellulosic matrix and fractioning the hemicellulosic component. The fermentation was carried out using Central Composite Rotational Design for better visualizing the optimum conditions. The variables analyzed and their levels were: concentration of yeast extract, temperature, pH and agitation. The results show that the variables that more influenced on succinic acid production were pH and temperature. When it was used a high xylose content liquor, obtained under optimal hydrolysis condition, as fermentative medium, the succinic acid productivity and concentration of 0,57 g/L.h and 14,02 g/L, respectively, were obtained.