Fermentation of sugar cane bagasse hemicellulose hydrolysate to L(+)-lactic acid by a thermotolerant acidophilic Bacillus sp.

Sugar cane bagasse hemicellulose, hydrolyzed by dilute H2SO4, supplemented with mineral salts and 0.5% corn steep liquor, was fermented to L(+)-lactic acid using a newly isolated strain of Bacillus sp. In batch fermentations at 50 degrees C and pH 5, over 5.5% (w/v) L(+)-lactic acid was produced (89% theoretical yield; 0.9 g lactate per g sugar) with an optical purity of 99.5%.