Succinic acid production from cellobiose by Actinobacillus succinogenes

In this study, cellobiose, a reducing disaccharide was used to produce succinic acid by Actinobacillus succinogenes NJ113. A final succinic acid concentration of 30.3. g/l with a yield of 67.8% was achieved from an initial cellobiose concentration of 50. g/l via batch fermentation in anaerobic bottles. The cellobiose uptake mechanism was investigated and the results of enzyme assays revealed that the phosphoenolpyruvate phosphotransferase system (PEP-PTS) played an important role in the cellobiose uptake process. In batch fermentation with 18. g/l of cellobiose and 17. g/l of other sugars from sugarcane bagasse cellulose hydrolysates, a succinic acid concentration of 20.0. g/l was obtained, with a corresponding yield of 64.7%. This study found that cellobiose from incomplete hydrolysis of cellulose could be a potential carbon source for economical and efficient succinic acid production by A. succinogenes.