The use of Rhizopus sp. mutant for lactic acid production by solid state fermentation

Abstract

A fungal strain, Rhizopus sp. C018, is a promising filamentous fungus that produces L-(+)-lactic acid. In this study the wild strain of C018 was used for lactic acid production by solid state fermentation on cassava peel incubated at 30oC. The results showed that the strain could produce 32.4 mg/g of lactic acid at day three. Then, the wild strain of C018 was subjected to mutation by UV radiation and the mutant named UV 333 expressed the highest lactic acid production as 57.6 mg/g analyzed by Reflectometer RQflex® 10 Merck Germany at day three. For further studies, mutation by chemicals will be tested to obtain the maximum amount of lactic acid production.