A Novel Method of Fermentative Production of Calcium Lactate Directly from Noncooked White Rice Bran

Abstract

Calcium lactate was found to be produced directly from noncooked white rice bran by using Streptococcus bovis, which is a rumen bacterium and known to be capable of digesting raw starch. The starch was suspended in a dilute solution of sulfuric acid (pH about 2) and after allowing the mixture to stand for several hours, calcium carbonate was added to it to make carbon dioxide evolve, followed by inoculation of the bacterium. The amount of starch converted to lactate per unit time was increased with the starch concentration to some extent . Of interest was the fact that the addition of small amount of glucoamylase to the fermentation mixture resulted in a significant acceleration of the fermentation.