Evaluation of seaweed for the production of lactic acid by fermentation using Lactobacillus plantarum

Abstract

Seaweeds are renewable substrates rich in cost-effective fermentable sugars. The present study examined the feasibility of seaweed sugars for value-added chemical production of lactic acid, to produce bioplastic precursor polylactic acid from Ulva fasciata, Gracilaria corticata and Kappaphycus alvarezii using Lactobacillus plantarum MTCC 1407 and 6161. Pretreatment of U. fasciata, G. corticata and K. alvarezii with 1% H2SO4 yielded reducing sugar of 0.5 g/g, 0.24 g/g and 0.71 g/g DW of seaweed, respectively. The maximum amount of lactic acid produced from U. fasciata, G. corticata and K. alvarezii was 0.4 ± 0.07 g (w/w), 0.66 ± 0.03 g (w/w) and 0.66 ± 0.03 g (w/w), respectively. In this study, the seaweed K. alvarezii acted as a better substrate for the production of lactic acid and platform chemicals to synthesis biopolymers and also supports cleaner environment.