Lactobionic acid production by Pseudomonas taetrolens in a fed‐batch bioreactor using acid whey as substrate

Conversion of Deproteinized Cheese Whey to Lactobionate by an Engineered Neurospora crassa Strain F5

We report a novel production process for lactobionic acid (LBA) production using an engineered Neurospora crassa strain F5. The wild-type N. crassa strain produces cellobiose dehydrogenase (CDH) and uses lactose as a carbon source. N. crassa strain F5, which was constructed by deleting six out of the seven β-glucosidases in the wild type, showed a much slower lactose utilization rate and produced a much higher level of cellobiose dehydrogenase (CDH) than the wild type. Strain N. crassa F5 produced CDH and laccase simultaneously on the pretreated wheat straw with 3 µM of cycloheximide added as the laccase inducer. The deproteinized cheese whey was added directly to the shake flasks with the fungus present to achieve LBA production. Strain F5 produced about 37 g/L of LBA from 45 g/L of lactose in 27 h since deproteinized cheese whey addition. The yield of LBA from consumed lactose was about 85%, and the LBA productivity achieved was about 1.37 g/L/h.

Nondairy food applications of whey and milk permeates: Direct and indirect uses

Permeates are generated in the dairy industry as byproducts from the production of high-protein products (e.g., whey or milk protein isolates and concentrates). Traditionally, permeate was disposed of as waste or used in animal feed, but with the recent move toward a "zero waste" economy, these streams are being recognized for their potential use as ingredients, or as raw materials for the production of value-added products. Permeates can be added directly into foods such as baked goods, meats, and soups, for use as sucrose or sodium replacers, or can be used in the production of prebiotic drinks or sports beverages. In-direct applications generally utilize the lactose present in permeate for the production of higher value lactose derivatives, such as lactic acid, or prebiotic carbohydrates such as lactulose. However, the impurities present, short shelf life, and difficulty handling these streams can present challenges for manufacturers and hinder the efficiency of downstream processes, especially compared to pure lactose solutions. In addition, the majority of these applications are still in the research stage and the economic feasibility of each application still needs to be investigated. This review will discuss the wide variety of nondairy, food-based applications of milk and whey permeates, with particular focus on the advantages and disadvantages associated with each application and the suitability of different permeate types (i.e., milk, acid, or sweet whey).

Aerobic Cultivation of Mucor Species Enables the Deacidification of Yogurt Acid Whey and the Production of Fungal Oil

As the Greek-style yogurt market continues to experience prosperous growth, finding the most appropriate destination for yogurt acid whey (YAW) is still a challenge for Greek yogurt manufacturers. This study provides a direct alternative treatment of YAW by leveraging the abilities of Mucor circinelloides and Mucor genevensis to raise the pH of YAW and to produce fungal biomass with a high lipid content. Aerobic cultivations of these species were conducted in YAW, both with and without the addition of lactase, at 30 °C, and 200 rpm agitation. The density, pH, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), biomass production, lipid content, fatty acid profile, and sugar and lactic acid concentrations were regularly measured throughout the 14-day cultivations. The data showed that M. genevensis was superior at deacidifying YAW to a pH above 6.0-the legal limit for disposing of cultured dairy waste. On the other hand, M. circinelloides generated more fungal biomass, containing up to 30% w/w of lipid with high proportions of oleic acid and γ-linolenic acid. Additionally, the treatments with lactase addition showed a significant decrease in the BOD. In conclusion, our results present a viable treatment to increase the pH of YAW and decrease its BOD, meanwhile generating fungal oils that can be further transformed into biodiesel or processed into functional foods or dietary supplements.

The Impact of Biotechnologically Produced Lactobionic Acid in the Diet of Lactating Dairy Cows on Their Performance and Quality Traits of Milk

Dairy processing is one of the most polluting sectors of the food industry as it causes water pollution. Given considerable whey quantities obtained via traditional cheese and curd production methods, manufacturers worldwide are encountering challenges for its rational use. However, with the advancement in biotechnology, the sustainability of whey management can be fostered by applying microbial cultures for the bioconversion of whey components such as lactose to functional molecules. The present work was undertaken to demonstrate the potential utilization of whey for producing a fraction rich in lactobionic acid (Lba), which was further used in the dietary treatment of lactating dairy cows. The analysis utilizing high-performance liquid chromatography with refractive index (HPLC-RID) detection confirmed the abundance of Lba in biotechnologically processed whey, corresponding to 11.3 g L^-1. The basic diet of two dairy cow groups involving nine animals, Holstein Black and White or Red breeds in each, was supplemented either with 1.0 kg sugar beet molasses (Group A) or 5.0 kg of the liquid fraction containing 56.5 g Lba (Group B). Overall, the use of Lba in the diet of dairy cows during the lactation period equal to molasses affected cows' performances and quality traits, especially fat composition. The observed values of urea content revealed that animals of Group B and, to a lesser extent, Group A received a sufficient amount of proteins, as the amount of urea in the milk decreased by 21.7% and 35.1%, respectively. After six months of the feeding trial, a significantly higher concentration of essential amino acids (AAs), i.e., isoleucine and valine, was observed in Group B. The percentage increase corresponded to 5.8% and 3.3%, respectively. A similar trend of increase was found for branched-chain AAs, indicating an increase of 2.4% compared with the initial value. Overall, the content of fatty acids (FAs) in milk samples was affected by feeding. Without reference to the decrease in individual FAs, the higher values of monounsaturated FAs (MUFAs) were achieved via the supplementation of lactating cows' diets with molasses. In contrast, the dietary inclusion of Lba in the diet promoted an increase in saturated FA (SFA) and polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) content in the milk after six months of the feeding trial.

Downstream Approach Routes for the Purification and Recovery of Lactobionic Acid

The successful development of a lactobionic acid (LBA) bioconversion process on an industrial scale demands the selection of appropriate downstream methodological approaches to achieve product purification once the bioconversion of LBA is completed. These approaches depend on the nature of the substrate available for LBA production, and their necessary implementation could constitute a drawback when compared to the lesser effort required in downstream approaches in the production of LBA obtained by chemical synthesis from refined lactose. Thus, the aim of this research is to separate LBA from an acid whey substrate after bioconversion with Pseudomonas taetrolens. Freeze drying, crystallization, adsorption with activated carbon, microfiltration, centrifugation, and precipitation with 96% (v/v) ethanol were carried out to separate and purify LBA. The closest product to commercial LBA was obtained using precipitation with ethanol, obtaining a white powder with 95 ± 2% LBA concentration. The procedure described in this paper could help to produce LBA on an industrial scale via microbial bioconversion from acid whey, developing a promising biotechnological approach for lactose conversion.