A novel industrial process for l-aspartic acid production using an ultrafiltration-membrane

A novel industrial process for the production of L-aspartic acid was developed. This process is characterized by the use of intact cells of a coryneform bacterium, Brevibacterium flavum MJ-233, which does not undergo autolysis, and by the use of an ultrafiltration-membrane for the separation and recycling of the cells. Unwanted formation of by-product, L-malic acid, was selectively eliminated by heat treating cells prior to reaction. Improvement of the process is in progress based on genetic engineering techniques.