African Journal of
Microbiology Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Microbiol. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0808
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJMR
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 5236

Full Length Research Paper

Production of vitamin B12 and folic acid from agricultural wastes using new bacterial isolates

Mostafa M. El-Sheekh1*, Ibrahim S. Abd-Elsalam2, Samya Shabana1 and Ahmed Zaki1
1Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Egypt. 2Natural and Microbial Products Chemistry, National Research Center, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt.
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 25 February 2013
  •  Published: 12 March 2013

Abstract

The rate and optimum conditions for production of vitamin B12 and folic acid from a mixture of agricultural wastes, rice bran and wheat straw was studied with new bacterial isolates, using solid-state fermentation (SSF). The isolates Klebsiella pneumoniae andCitrobacter freundii showed the highest yields of 38.74 and 45.21 µg/l for vitamin B12 and folic acid, respectively, from 200 g/l of the studied wastesThe optimum fermentation temperature for this production was 30°C for 3 days. This method is important to exploit the agricultural wastes which cause severe problems for the environment.

 

Key words: Bacteria, folic acid, solid-state fermentation, vitamin B12