Production of Citric Acid by Candida lipolytica under Fermentation Conditions Using a Plackett-Burman Design

Abstract

Citric acid is one of the most versatile industrial organic acids that are used in food industries, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals products. This work aimed to produce citric acid by Candida lipolytica under submerged fermentation conditions using a Plackett-Burman design. Twelve factors including pH, concentration of sodium acetate, magnesium sulfate, Ammonium chloride, potassium phosphate, ferric sulfate, manganese sulfate, zinc sulfate, yeast extract, glucose, aeration ratio and incubation time at a temperature of 30°C were tested as main variables affecting citric acid production using Plackett-Burman design. The results indicated that pH (7), concentration of sodium acetate (10g/L), magnesium sulfate (1.5g/L), potassium phosphate (5g/L), ammonium chloride (3g/L), ferric sulfate(140mg/L), manganese sulfate (50 mg/L), zinc sulfate (80 mg/L), yeast extract (5g/L), glucose (150g/L), aeration ratio(75ml medium/ flask250ml) and incubation period of 7 days were the most effective factors for the highest yield of citric acid production. The highest citric acid concentration was 22.8 g/L of the medium under the previously mentioned conditions.