Overall objective.

The general objective of this project is the development of a new producction technology for obtaining lactic acid from deproteinized whey at low cost, through a new production technology based on an environmental friendly process.

Project Scientific and Technical Objectives.

The target of the project will be reached throuh the attainment of the following specific objectives:

1. Optimisation of the fermentation process of the wey permeate to produce lactic acid:

• Use of polyvinyl alcohol gel particles as immobilisation carrier of the fermentative bateria. The cost due to inoculum preparation will be reduced at least forty-fold.
• Development of predicted models and desing of a bioreactor adapted to the previous process, improving the yields obtained in batch system.

2. Technology NIR (Near InfraRed) Implementation to monitor the pre-treatment adnfermentation process, from the raw material (permeate whey) to fermentation stream.

3. Supercritical fluis technology application in the purification step:

• Application of simultaneous extraction and reaction of lactic acid as a novel purification process. Final purity of obtained lactic acid will range between 80-90%.
• Use of heterogeneous catalysis in tuneable mediums. Slection of one solid acid catalyst based on anion interchange resins. Expected conversion yield to ethyl lactate will be hiher than 80%.