Production of D-lactate in Geobacillus spp

This project aims to produce modified strains of the microorganism Geobacillus to produce pure D-lactic acid for renewable products such as bioplastics using agricultural by-products and municipal waste. The bacterial host grows at high temperatures and has the ability to convert all the sugars in non-food materials, resulting in a process to produce D lactic acid directly via fermentation rather than current processes which require chemical conversion of L-lactic acid produced from food based feedstocks such as starch. The objectives of this work will be to demonstrate lab scale production of pure D-lactic acid from the modified Geobacillus strains and to design and demonstrate the industrial manufacturing processes. Finally the project will develop a business model and identify commercial partners for future Industrial Research grant applications.