GB968428A - Process for the production of l-glutamic acid - Google Patents

Abstract

A process for the production of L-glutamic acid comprises the steps of (i) contacting a microorganism capable of decomposing and/or absorbing biotin or substances having biotin-like activity with saccharidic materials containing more than 10g of biotin per 100 grams of sugar, or a corresponding high content of a substance having biotin-like activity, and removing solid matter from the culture medium or inactivating the enzyme, (ii) culturing a microorganism capable of producing L-glutamic acid in a nutrient medium containing a carbon source comprising the thus-treated saccharidic materials and an assimilable nitrogen source while shaking under aerobic conditions, and (iii) recovering L-glutamic acid from the culture medium. Suitable initial saccharidic materials include syrups containing sugar, crude sugar, beet or cane molasses, crushed rice hydrolysate, cereal hydrolysate or soya-bean extracts containing 5-30% by weight of carbohydrate. The step (i) is preferably conducted at pH 4-12 and 20-50 DEG C.; suitable microorganisms belong to Brevibacterium lactofermentum, Saccharomyces bisporus and Tolura spp. Suitable organisms for use in step (ii) belong to the genus Bacillus, e.g. B. megatherium, B. subtilis, B. circulans and B. cereus; the genus Micrococcus, e.g. M. varians; the genus Brevibacterium, e.g. B. lactofermentum, B. kawasakii, B. divaricatum, B. aminogenes and B. saccharolyticum; or Escherichia coli. Substances of biotin-like activity include biocytin, desthiobiotin, biotin-d-sulphoxide and pelargonic acid derivatives. Specifications 873,448, 876,943, 889,187, 905,973, 920,241, 920,242 and 924,035 are referred to.