High‐performance fermentation with lactic acid bacteria entrapped in pectate gel. Immobilizates with enhanced lactate formation activity

High‐loaded pectate gels containing more than 10¹⁴ cells/l of gel (viability > 60%) were obtained. Immobbilizates of Lactobacillus sp. IMET 11466 showed a maximum mean gel activity of 120 g of lactate/l of gel * h. With the strain Streptococcus thermophilus Č 129 a value of 139 g of lactate/l of gel * h was attained. Using these immobilizates the conversion of 100 g of glucose/l with a yield of 90–95% can be realized in only 6–8 h. On the basis of a detailed analysis of the time course of the lactate‐forming activity of the immobilizates during batch fermentations evidence is given of an analogy in the lactate‐inhibitory behaviour of immobilized and free cells.