4-27: High hexanoic acid production by Megasphaera BS-4 with sodium acetate and butyrate

Cow rumen is the habitat for bacteria producing various volatile fatty acids. Among the volatile fatty acids, hexanoic acid could be used as cosmetic ingredient and food addictive. Thus, we investigated to evaluate hexanoic acid producing capacity of isolated Megasphaera BS-4 from cow rumen. Megasphaera BS-4 produced acetic acid, butyric acid, pentanoic acid, hexanoic acid, and octanoic acid in modified PYF(peptone, yeast extract, fructose) medium. Major product was hexanoic acid. For high hexanoic acid production, the optimum medium condition was selected through response surface methodology, and the concentrations of acetic acid, butyric acid, and fructose were the important factor for hexanoic acid production. Megasphaera BS-4 produced the maximum concentration and production rate of hexanoic acid, around 10g/L and 0.33g/L/hr, respectively when 12 g/L of sodium acetate and butyrate were added without pH adjustment. Acetate and butyrate were consumed for the hexanoic acid production and pH was 6.0~6.5 for culturing time.