ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Biochemical Method of Oxalic Acid Production from Beet Molasses

W. Podgorski And W. Lesniak

Department of Food Biotechnology, Institute of Chemistry and Food Technology, Wroclaw University of Economics, PL-53-345 Wroclaw

E-mail: waldemar.podgorski@ae.wroc.pl

Received: 31 March 2003

Abstract: The ability of Aspergillus niger strains to produce relatively high concentration of oxalic acid from a low-cost carbon substrate was investigated. The experiments proved that beet molasses was a suitable raw material for oxalic acid production when an optimized dose of potassium ferrocyanide was used as an additive. A positive e ect on the oxalic acid production was exhibited if higher concentrations of dissolved oxygen were maintained. The fermentation processes carried out in a pilot plant scale in 1500-dm³ stirred tank reactor allowed obtaining oxalic acid concentration as high as 38.7 g dm⁻³. This amount of product was obtained during 144 h of the batch process from 12.8 % of initial sugar content in molasses medium.

Chemical Papers 57 (6) 408–412 (2003)