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Biotechnological production of gluconic acid: future implications

  • Biotechnological Products and Process Engineering
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Abstract

Gluconic acid (GA) is a multifunctional carbonic acid regarded as a bulk chemical in the food, feed, beverage, textile, pharmaceutical, and construction industries. The favored production process is submerged fermentation by Aspergillus niger utilizing glucose as a major carbohydrate source, which accompanied product yield of 98%. However, use of GA and its derivatives is currently restricted because of high prices: about US$ 1.20–8.50/kg. Advancements in biotechnology such as screening of microorganisms, immobilization techniques, and modifications in fermentation process for continuous fermentation, including genetic engineering programmes, could lead to cost-effective production of GA. Among alternative carbohydrate sources, sugarcane molasses, grape must show highest GA yield of 95.8%, and banana must may assist reducing the overall cost of GA production. These methodologies would open new markets and increase applications of GA.

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Acknowledgements

Thanks to Dr. Amal Das of the University of North Carolina for useful discussions. Technical support rendered by Rashmi Singh for preparing this manuscript is gratefully acknowledged. We also thank the reviewers and the editorial team for their insightful suggestions regarding the review content.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 600 N. Wolfe St., CMSC, 3-106, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA

    Om V. Singh

  2. Division of Radiation Biology, Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences, New Delhi, 110 054, India

    Raj Kumar

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  1. Om V. Singh
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  2. Raj Kumar
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Correspondence to Om V. Singh.

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OVS and RK are the sole contributors of this original review article. This review is based upon the published research in the area of gluconic acid fermentation.

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Singh, O.V., Kumar, R. Biotechnological production of gluconic acid: future implications. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 75, 713–722 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-007-0851-x

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