IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,674,189
Granted Patent B2
US 12,674,189 · App. 17/799,622 · Granted Jul 7, 2026

Use of microbial cell lines to maximize organic acid production

Inventors: Derrick White (Lincoln, NE); James S. Brophy (St. Louis Park, MN); Krishnamoorthy Pitchai (St. Louis Park, MN)
Assignee: J&K Ingredients, LLC
C12P39/00C12N1/20C12P7/46C12P7/54C12P7/56
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,674,189
App. No.
17/799,622
Filed
Aug 12, 2022
Granted
Jul 7, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
1652
USPC
435/100
Abstract

Described herein are methods, microbial cell lines, and media used in co-culture to augment propionic acid production using an optimized fermentation medium and methods for increasing propionic acid yield, e.g., by co-culturing Lacticbacillus Casei and high-acid tolerant A. Acidipropionici.

Claims (26)

1 . A method for producing propionic acid, the method comprising:

providing acid-tolerant propionic acid excreting microbes selected from the group consisting of Propionibacterium, Anaerovibrio, Bacteroides, Clostridium, Fusobacterium, Megasphaera, Propionispira, Selenomonas, Veillonella , and combinations thereof;

providing acid-tolerant lactic acid producing microbes selected from the group consisting of Lactococcus, Pediococcus, Oenococus, Enterococcus, Leuconostoc, Bifidobacterium, Bacillus, Lactobacillus, Clostridium, Paenibacillus , Sporolactobacillus, and combinations thereof;

providing a growth medium comprising a glucose carbon source and a lactose carbon source, and having a pH of between 5.8 and 6.5;

adding the acid-tolerant propionic acid excreting microbes and the acid-tolerant lactic acid producing microbes to the growth medium, wherein the acid-tolerant lactic acid producing microbes are added to the growth medium 6-36 hours after the acid-tolerant propionic acid excreting microbes are added to the growth medium, thereby producing a co-culture;

incubating the co-culture in fermentation, thereby producing propionic acid; and maintaining the co-culture for a time sufficient to produce a desired amount of propionic acid.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the Propionibacterium genus microbes are Acidipropionibacterium acidipropionici (NF S-2018).

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the acid-tolerant propionic acid excreting microbes are provided as a growing culture.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the acid-tolerant lactic acid producing microbes are selected from the group consisting of Lactococcus, Pediococcus, Oenococus, Enterococcus, Leuconostoc, Bifidobacterium , and Bacillus.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the acid-tolerant lactic acid producing microbes are provided as a growing culture.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the acid-tolerant lactic acid producing microbes are selected from the group consisting of Bacillus, Lactobacillus, Clostridium, Paenibacillus, Sporolactobacillus , and combinations thereof.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the acid-tolerant lactic acid producing microbes are Lactobacillus casei.

8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the acid-tolerant lactic acid producing microbes are provided as spores.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the spores are provided as part of the carbon source.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pH of the growth medium is 6.0.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the growth medium further comprises a nitrogen source, vitamins, MgSO 4 , NaPO 4 , and KPO 4 .

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the nitrogen source is selected from yeast extract, peptides, ammonia sulfate, ammonia hydroxide, amino acids, and combinations thereof.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the nitrogen source is yeast extract.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the vitamin is vitamin B12.

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the glucose carbon source and the lactose carbon source are the same.

16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the glucose carbon source and the lactose carbon source are different.

17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the glucose carbon source is a plant-based glucose carbon source.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the plant-based glucose carbon source is selected from the group consisting of hydrolyzed wheat, hydrolyzed corn, hydrolyzed beans, hydrolyzed starch, and combinations thereof.

19 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the lactose carbon source is whey.

20 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the acid-tolerant lactic acid producing microbes are added to the growth medium 12-24 hours after the acid-tolerant propionic acid excreting microbes are added to the growth medium;

and maintaining the co-culture for a time sufficient to produce a desired amount of propionic acid.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2025
From: S&P INGREDIENT DEVELOPMENT, LLC
To: J&K INGREDIENTS, LLC
Reel/Frame 072784/0953 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 29, 2025
From: J&K INGREDIENTS, LLC
To: KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 072976/0566 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2022
From: WHITE, DERRICK; BROPHY, JAMES S.; PITCHAI, KRISHNAMOORTHY
To: S & P INGREDIENT DEVELOPMENT, LLC
Reel/Frame 060867/0452 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62977087 · Feb 14, 2020
Related Publication 20230097164A1 · Mar 30, 2023
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