Abstract: The present invention provides a method of preparing D-psicose comprising the steps of (i) providing a mixture of D-psicose and D-fructose; and (ii) contacting the mixture of D-psicose and D-fructose with a probiotic microorganism that is capable of metabolizing D-fructose but not D-psicose and capable of converting D-fructose into L-lactic acid and subjecting the microorganism to culture conditions that allow fermentative removal of D-fructose from the mixture of D-psicose and D-fructose with concomitant production of L-lactic acid. Further provided are uses of a probiotic microorganism that is capable of metabolizing D-fructose but not D-psicose and capable of converting D-fructose into L-lactic acid for fermentative removal of D-fructose from a mixture of D-psicose and D-fructose. In particular, the probiotic microorganism is Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG or Saccharomyces boulardii.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of preparing D-psicose comprising the steps of (i) providing a mixture of D-psicose and D-fructose; and (ii) contacting the mixture of D-psicose and D-fructose with a probiotic microorganism that is capable of metabolizing D-fructose but not D-psicose and capable of converting D-fructose into L-lactic acid and subjecting the microorganism to culture conditions that allow fermentative removal of D-fructose from the mixture of D-psicose and D-fructose with concomitant production of L-lactic acid. Further provided are uses of a probiotic microorganism that is capable of metabolizing D-fructose but not D-psicose and capable of converting D-fructose into L-lactic acid for fermentative removal of D-fructose from a mixture of D-psicose and D-fructose. In particular, the probiotic microorganism is Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG or Saccharomyces boulardii.

Abstract: The present invention relates to newly isolated Bacillus coagulans strains C106, JI 12 and WCPlO-4, cost effective methods for producing lactic acid using the strains as well as seed inoculums and kits comprising the strains. Optically pure L-lactic acid was produced from xylose or glucose at high product titers (>200 g/L) and productivities (4.2 g/L/h on xylose and 4.6 g/L/h on glucose) at 50° C. When an acid hydrolysate (85 g sugars/L) of empty fruit bunch of oil palm trees was used, the L-lactic acid titer, yield and productivity reached 84.5 g/L, 97% and 1.84 g/L/h, respectively. A one-step, one-pot open fermentation was also developed to produce optically pure L-lactic acid from starch. The final lactic acid titer and productivity were as high as 202.0 g/L and 5.4 g/L/h, respectively. No glucose remained in the broth and the lactic acid yield reached 98%.