초록
<P><B>Abstract</B></P><P>The objective of this work was to perform production of <SMALL>L</SMALL>‐lactic acid from starch‐rich waste loquat kernels by newly isolated <I>Rhizopus oryzae</I> MBG‐10 fungus. Loquat kernel flour (LKF) was used as substrate (mainly as carbon source). The most favorable conditions for <SMALL>L</SMALL>‐lactic acid production were LKF concentration of 80 g/L, CaCO<SUB>3</SUB> concentration of 20 g/L, ammonium sulfate concentration of 3 g/L and incubation time of 108 h. Under these conditions, <SMALL>L</SMALL>‐lactic acid and biomass concentrations were 45.4 and 8.2 g/L, respectively, and α‐amylase activity was 81.6 U/mL. No significant pH changes were observed in the medium thanks to the buffering capacity of LKF. <SMALL>L</SMALL>‐lactic acid could be produced in a single‐stage from starch‐rich LKF without prior saccharification by the fungus with high amylolytic enzyme activity. This is the first report on use of waste loquat kernels as a lactic acid production substrate.</P>