Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part A (2025)

The growing demand for sustainable production of platform chemicals has intensified interest in the fermentative synthesis of 2-hydroxypropionic acid (lactic acid) — a versatile compound used in food, pharmaceuticals, and biodegradable polymers. Traditional chemical routes, based on petrochemical feedstocks, are energy-intensive and environmentally unsustainable. Microbial fermentation offers a green alternative, yet challenges remain in achieving high yield, productivity, and process stability. This study explores integrated bioprocess engineering approaches for enhancing fermentative 2-hydroxypropionic acid production, combining microbial strain optimization, redox control, and bioreactor design innovations. Insights from electro-fermentation (as demonstrated for 3-hydroxypropionic acid using Klebsiella pneumoniae L17) and immobilized-cell systems (as applied in fibrous-bed bioreactors with Propionibacterium acidipropionici) are adapted for improving the redox balance and cell retention in lactic acid fermentation. The resulting process framework emphasizes renewable carbon sources, optimized fermentation conditions, and enhanced NADH/NAD⁺ regeneration mechanisms. This integrated strategy establishes a sustainable, high-yield pathway for 2-hydroxypropionic acid production and contributes to the broader field of microbial organic acid bioprocesses.