Demineralization of red crab shell waste by lactic acid fermentation

Lactic acid fermentation was applied to demineralize red crab shell waste using Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. tolerans KCTC-3074. Various concentrations (0, 2.5, 5.0, 10.0%) of glucose were supplemented as an initial carbon source and various amounts (2.5, 5.0, 10.0%) of the bacterial culture were inoculated as a starter. Microbial growth was very dependent on glucose concentration but little dependent on inoculum level. The pH decreased rapidly from pH 8 to pH 6 during the first day, at all three inoculum levels. At day 5 of fermentation, the 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0% inoculum levels with 10% glucose supply gave pH 5.5, 5.1, and 4.6, respectively, i.e. a decrease in pH concomitant with an increase in the inoculum level. The total titratable acidities (TTA) at day 5 for 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0% inoculum levels with 10% glucose supplement were 3.1, 4.5, and 8.3%, and the relative residual ash contents were 26.6, 25.9, and 19.0%, respectively. A negative relationship was found between pH and demineralization level (r²=0.8571), but there was a positive relationship between TTA and demineralization level (r²=0.5532).     

Production of chitin from red crab shell waste by successive fermentation with Lactobacillus paracasei KCTC-3074 and Serratia marcescens FS-3

Successive two-step fermentation was carried out from red crab shell wastes for biological extraction of chitin in combination of the 1st step with a lactic acid bacterium Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. tolerans KCTC-3074 and the 2nd step with a protease producing bacterium Serratia marcescens FS-3, and vice versa. In the 1st step fermentation with KCTC-3074, the pH decreased rapidly from pH 6.90 to 3.31 and TTA increased rapidly to 10.99 for 5 days. At day 7 in the 2nd step fermentation with FS-3, pH further dropped to 2.82 and TTA also dropped to 1.71. In the 1st step fermentation using FS-3, the pH decreased slightly from pH 6.90 to 5.89, and TTA was low as indicated by 1.50 at 5 days. At day 7 in the 2nd step fermentation with KCTC-3074, the pH value was 3.62, and TTA increased to 8.95. The successive fermentation in the combination of FS-3 and KCTC-3074 gave the best result in co-removal of CaCO₃ and proteins from crab shells. In this combination, the rates of demineralization and deproteinization were 94.3% and 68.9%, respectively, at the end of fermentation. To date, this is the 1st report on successive fermentation for biological extraction of chitin from crustacean shells.     

Preservation of crab or shrimp waste as silage for cattle

Five experiments were conducted to either ferment fresh shrimp or crab waste with molasses, molasses and bacterial inoculant, or to preserve it with salt. Experiment 1 was a 4 × 2 factorial arrangement. Crab waste was combined with 0, 5, 10, or 15% liquid molasses, and stored in mini-silos (15 l) with or without lids for 14 days. The addition of molasses slightly decreased pH and offensive odors; mini-silo temperatures without lids were higher than those with lids. Experiment 2 was a 5 × 2 factorial arrangement designed to enhance fermentation. Fresh shrimp waste was combined with 0, 10, 15, 20, or 25% dry molasses and 0 or 1.0 × 10⁸ colony forming bacteria/g inoculant and ensiled for six days. As the level of molasses increased, dry matter and lactic acid increased but, the pH, crude protein, ammonia acetic, butyric, and propionic acid concentrations decreased. Significant molasses by inoculant interactions occurred which were highly variable for each acid. Evidence of fermentation was supported by production of lactic acid at all levels of molasses. The pH decreased from 7.7 in the untreated waste to an average of 7.4 for the 10, 15 and 20% molasses treated wastes to 6.8 in the 25% molasses treated waste. The high pH was an indication that the waste may be unstable with longer storage (> 6 days). Therefore, in Experiment 3, designed as a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, shrimp waste treated with 15 and 20% molasses, with or without inoculant was ensiled for 21 days to test stability. By day 21, shrimp waste had deteriorated as indicated by a mean pH of 7.5, low lactic acid, and high butyric acid concentration, an unacceptable odor, and the presence of mold on the surface of the samples.In Experiments 4 and 5, shrimp or crab waste was combined with salt at 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0, and 12.5%. Increasing levels of salt decreased crude protein percent, ammonia concentration, and lactic and volatile fatty acids while increasing the pH and improving the acceptability of the odors in both the shrimp and crab wastes. Treatment of crustacean waste with 7.5% or greater salt was more effective at preserving crude protein and minimizing odor than either dry or liquid molasses.     

Chitin and L(+)-lactic acid production from crab (Callinectes bellicosus) wastes by fermentation of Lactobacillus sp. B2 using sugar cane molasses as carbon source

Crab wastes are employed for simultaneous production of chitin and L(+)-lactic acid by submerged fermentation of Lactobacillus sp. B2 using sugar cane molasses as carbon source. Response surface methodology was applied to design the culture media considering demineralization. Fermentations in stirred tank reactor (2L) using selected conditions produced 88% demineralization and 56% deproteinization with 34% yield of chitin and 19.5 gL(-1) of lactic acid (77% yield). The chitin purified from fermentation displayed 95% degree of acetylation and 0.81 and 1 ± 0.125% of residual ash and protein contents, respectively.     

Extraction of chitin from red crab shell waste by cofermentation with Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. tolerans KCTC-3074 and Serratia marcescens FS-3

For one-step extraction of chitin from red crab shell waste, cofermentation with Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. tolerans KCTC-3074, a lactic-acid-producing bacterium, and Serratia marcescens FS-3, a protease-producing bacterium, was conducted. Fermentation with single strain (L. 3074 or FS-3) was also conducted. At day 7, the pH in L. 3074, FS-3, and L. 3074+FS-3 (1:1) treatment decreased from 6.90 to 3.30, 5.88, and 3.48, respectively. Ash content in the residue after fermentation treatment of crab shells in L. 3074 and L. 3074+FS-3 (1:1) treatment drastically decreased from 41.2% to 3.19 and 1.15%, respectively. In L. 3074+FS-3 (1:1) cofermentation, the level of demineralization was the highest value of 97.2%, but the level of deproteinization in the cofermentation was 52.6% at day 7. Protein content in the treatment of FS-3 alone reduced from 22.4 to 3.62%. These results indicate that cofermentation of the shells using the two strains is efficient and applicable for the one-step extraction of crude chitin from red crab shell waste.     

Molasses and microbial inoculants improve fermentability and silage quality of cotton waste-based spent mushroom substrate

A small-silo study was conducted to develop an effective ensiling storage method for the use of cotton waste-based spent mushroom substrate (SMS) as an animal feed. The SMS was ensiled with 5% molasses (DM basis), 0.5% (v/w) lactic acid bacteria (LAB, Lactobacillus plantarum) inoculant or 0.5% (v/w) yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) inoculant. The treatments included 100% SMS (control), 95% SMS+5% molasses (T1), 95% SMS+5% molasses+0.5% LAB (T2) and 95% SMS+5% molasses+5% LAB+0.5% yeast (T3). The treatments were ensiled for 10. Change in chemical compositions was little (P>0.05) according to the ensiling process and treatments. Compared with those before ensiling, 100% SMS (control) after ensiling showed unstable fermentative properties with high pH (5.2) and little lactic acid production. Compared with the ensiled control, treatments (T1, T2 and T3) resulted in decreased pH, 18-20 times higher concentrations of lactic acid, and greater populations of total bacteria (P<0.07), LAB and yeast (P<0.07). The addition of 5% molasses, 0.5% LAB and 0.5% yeast (T3) to the SMS resulted in the lowest pH (4.25) and the greatest microbial populations. Treatment T3 was selected for a large scale silo study which was ensiled for 10, 20 and 30 d. As in the small-silo study, the T3 treatment showed favorable fermentative and microbial parameters, compared with the control, by decreasing pH and increasing lactic acid concentrations, LAB and yeast populations. The minimum ensiling period was 20 d, when pH was reasonably low and LAB and yeast populations were greatest. In conclusion, molasses and microbial inoculation improved silage quality of SMS.     

Effect of fly ash, organic wastes and chemical fertilizers on yield, nutrient uptake, heavy metal content and residual fertility in a rice-mustard cropping sequence under acid lateritic soils

A field experiment was conducted for two years in sandy loam acid lateritic soil to study the direct effect of fly ash, organic wastes and chemical fertilizers on rice (Oryza sativa) and their residual effect on mustard (Brassica napus var glauca) grown in sequence. Rice yields were higher when fly ash, organic wastes and chemical fertilizers were used in an integrated manner as compared to sole application of chemical fertilizers. Yields of mustard were also higher under the residual effect of the former rather than the latter. However, this beneficial residual effect under integrated nutrient sources was inadequate for the mustard crop in the low fertility test soil. Hence, direct application of fertilizers was needed, in addition to residual fertility. The effect of fly ash on mean rice equivalent yield of the rice–mustard cropping sequence was highest (up to 14%) when it was used in combination with organic wastes and chemical fertilizers. While the yield increase was 10% when it was used in combination with only chemical fertilizers. The minimum yield advantage, 3%, occurred when fly ash was applied alone. The equivalent yield of the rice–mustard cropping sequence was equally influenced by either of the organic wastes. Cadmium and Ni content in rice grain and straw were less under the direct effect of fly ash. The residual effect on mustard was similar for Ni content in seed and stover; however, Cd content was increased. Beneficial residual soil chemical properties in terms of pH, organic carbon and available N, P and K were noted for integrated nutrient treatments involved fly ash, organic wastes and chemical fertilizers as compared to continuous use of only chemical fertilizers. Application of fly ash alone was effective in raising soil available P. Thus, integrated use of fly ash, organic wastes and chemical fertilizers was beneficial in improving crop yield, soil pH, organic carbon and available N, P and K in sandy loam acid lateritic soil.     

Effect of crab shell size on bio-demineralization with lactic acid-producing bacterium, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lactobacillus paracasei</Emphasis> subsp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">tolerans</Emphasis> KCTC-3074

Demineralization (DM) from crab shell (CS) waste was carried out using a lactic acid-producing bacterium, Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. tolerans KCTC-3074 for 7 days at 25, 30, and 35°C. DM rates were 89∼92% and slightly affected by temperature. DM was also performed for four particle-sized shell samples (0.84∼3.35, 3.35∼10, 10∼20, and 20∼35 mm) with 10% inoculum, 5% shell, and 10% glucose at 30°C and 180 rpm for 7 days. It was found out that the shell size had a slight effect on the rate of DM. Negative relationships were found between DM and residual dry weight (r² = 0.960), and between DM and pH (r² = 0.906). Conversely, positive relationships were found between DM and medium protein (r² = 0.696), and between DM and total titratable acidity (r² = 0.630).     

油葫芦的营养价值(英文)

本研究旨在确定油葫芦Gryllus testaceus Walker的主要营养成分和营养价值。研究发现油葫芦体内主要含有蛋白质、脂类和几丁质三类物质,它们的含量(干重比)分别是58.3％,10.3％和8.7％。其中必需氨基酸的含量除了半胱氨酸和蛋氨酸外,非常符合FAO／WHO所确定的人体对氨基酸需求标准。脂肪酸分析显示,不饱和脂肪酸的含量很高,仅油酸、亚油酸和亚麻酸的含量就占总脂肪含量的77.51％。油葫芦的甲壳素含量为8.7％,而且从该虫提取甲壳素／壳聚糖的品质在甲壳素色泽及残留灰分含量、壳聚糖粘度等方面比常规甲壳素原料虾蟹壳的好。因此,油葫芦可以作为很好的食品或饲料添加剂,或医药原料。     

NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF THE FIELD CRICKET (GRYLLUS TESTACEUS WALKER)

Abstract The chemical composition and the nutritional quality of protein, fatty acids and chitin of adult field cricket Gryllus testaceus Walker were investigated. The adult insect contained: crude protein 58.3 %; fat 10.3 %, chitin 8.7 % and ash 2.96 % on dry matter basis respectively. The essential amino acid profile compared well with FAO/WHO recommended pattern except for cysteine and methionine. The fatty acid analysis showed unsaturated acid of the field cricket to be present in high quantities, and the total percentage of oleic acid, linolic acid and linolenic acid was 77.51%. The chitin content of the insect was 8.7% with a better quality than the commercial chitin that was prepared from shells of shrimp and crab. Therefore the chemical composition of the field cricket indicates the insect to be a good supplement to nutrition for food and feed, even a raw material for medicine.     

Characterization of an Unusual Fluoride-Resistant Streptococcus mutans Isolate

A fluoride-resistant Streptococcus mutans isolate NCH105 was characterized and compared with wild-type strain UA130. The growth and lactic acid production of strain NCH105 were found to be unaffected by the presence of fluoride at the initial medium pH values of 6.5 and 6. In addition, NCH105 was found to be capable of lowering the pH of the medium to approximately 5.5, which is the critical level where enamel demineralization begins in vivo. Lactic acid production, glucose uptake at pH 6.5 and 6, as well as ATPase activity at pH 5 were found to be unaffected by fluoride. Finally, strain NCH105 is capable of binding as well as the wild-type bacterium to artificial tooth pellicles. These results are unusual when compared with previously isolated fluoride-resistant mutants and suggest that NCH105 may have the ability to colonize the tooth surface and initiate dental caries.     

Inactivation of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli in rumen content- or feces-contaminated drinking water for cattle

Cattle drinking water is a source of on-farm Escherichia coli O157:H7 transmission. The antimicrobial activities of disinfectants to control E. coli O157:H7 in on-farm drinking water are frequently neutralized by the presence of rumen content and manure that generally contaminate the drinking water. Different chemical treatments, including lactic acid, acidic calcium sulfate, chlorine, chlorine dioxide, hydrogen peroxide, caprylic acid, ozone, butyric acid, sodium benzoate, and competing E. coli, were tested individually or in combination for inactivation of E. coli O157:H7 in the presence of rumen content. Chlorine (5 ppm), ozone (22 to 24 ppm at 5 degrees C), and competing E. coli treatment of water had minimal effects (<1 log CFU/ml reduction) on killing E. coli O157:H7 in the presence of rumen content at water-to-rumen content ratios of 50:1 (vol/wt) and lower. Four chemical-treatment combinations, including (i) 0.1% lactic acid, 0.9% acidic calcium sulfate, and 0.05% caprylic acid (treatment A); (ii) 0.1% lactic acid, 0.9% acidic calcium sulfate, and 0.1% sodium benzoate (treatment B); (iii) 0.1% lactic acid, 0.9% acidic calcium sulfate, and 0.5% butyric acid (treatment C); and (iv) 0.1% lactic acid, 0.9% acidic calcium sulfate, and 100 ppm chlorine dioxide (treatment D); were highly effective (>3 log CFU/ml reduction) at 21 degrees C in killing E. coli O157:H7, O26:H11, and O111:NM in water heavily contaminated with rumen content (10:1 water/rumen content ratio [vol/wt]) or feces (20:1 water/feces ratio [vol/wt]). Among them, treatments A, B, and C killed >5 log CFU E. coli O157:H7, O26:H11, and O111:NM/ml within 30 min in water containing rumen content or feces, whereas treatment D inactivated approximately 3 to 4 log CFU/ml under the same conditions. Cattle given water containing treatment A or C or untreated water (control) ad libitum for two 7-day periods drank 15.2, 13.8, and 30.3 liters/day, respectively, and cattle given water containing 0.1% lactic acid plus 0.9% acidic calcium sulfate (pH 2.1) drank 18.6 liters/day. The amounts of water consumed for all water treatments were significantly different from that for the control, but there were no significant differences among the water treatments. Such treatments may best be applied periodically to drinking water troughs and then flushed, rather than being added continuously, to avoid reduced water consumption by cattle.     

Characteristics of aerobic,solid substrate fermentation of swine waste-corn mixtures

Summary Aerobic fermentation of swine waste combined with corn produced differences in microbial and biochemical patterns dependent on use of fresh or stored excrement. Lactic acid fermentation and odor control resulted with either waste. Homofermentative lactic acid bacteria were present initially at 10⁷ organisms/dry g with stored waste-corn cultures and total microflora amounted to 10⁸ organisms/dry g. Fresh waste-corn fermentations initially yielded heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria at 10⁷ organisms/dry g and total viable population was 10⁹ organisms/dry g. These respective groups of lactic acid bacteria dominated from 12 through 144 h in cultures with either waste, and acid production (0.2 meq/dry g) decreased pH by 2 units to 4.5. The major acid component with stored waste-corn was lactic acid, whereas fresh waste-corn fermentation produced both lactic and homologous fatty acids from acetic through valeric acid. Coliform bacteria present initially at 10⁵ organisms/dry g in stored waste-corn cultures were not detected after 36 h; coliform bacteria in fresh waste-corn fermentations persisted at 10⁶ organisms/dry g. A silage-like fermentation product resulted which may have use in animal feed formulations.     

Effect of pH and lactic or acetic acid on ethanol productivity by Saccharomyces cerevisiae in corn mash

The effects of lactic and acetic acids on ethanol production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae in corn mash, as influenced by pH and dissolved solids concentration, were examined. The lactic and acetic acid concentrations utilized were 0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0% w/v, and 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8 and 1.6% w/v, respectively. Corn mashes (20, 25 and 30% dry solids) were adjusted to the following pH levels after lactic or acetic acid addition: 4.0, 4.5, 5.0 or 5.5 prior to yeast inoculation. Lactic acid did not completely inhibit ethanol production by the yeast. However, lactic acid at 4% w/v decreased (P<0.05) final ethanol concentration in all mashes at all pH levels. In 30% solids mash set at pH ≤5, lactic acid at 3% w/v reduced (P<0.05) ethanol production. In contrast, inhibition by acetic acid increased as the concentration of solids in the mash increased and the pH of the medium declined. Ethanol production was completely inhibited in all mashes set at pH 4 in the presence of acetic acid at concentrations ≥0.8% w/v. In 30% solids mash set at pH 4, final ethanol levels decreased (P<0.01) with only 0.1% w/v acetic acid. These results suggest that the inhibitory effects of lactic acid and acetic acid on ethanol production in corn mash fermentation when set at a pH of 5.0–5.5 are not as great as that reported thus far using laboratory media.     

Microbial development in distillers wet grains produced during fuel ethanol production from corn (Zea mays)

Distillers grains are coproduced with ethanol and carbon dioxide during the production of fuel ethanol from the dry milling and fermentation of corn grain, yet there is little basic microbiological information on these materials. We undertook a replicated field study of the microbiology of distillers wet grains (DWG) over a 9 day period following their production at an industrial fuel ethanol plant. Freshly produced DWG had a pH of about 4.4, a moisture content of about 53.5% (wet mass basis), and 4 x 10(5) total yeast cells/g dry mass, of which about 0.1% were viable. Total bacterial cells were initially below detection limits (ca. 10(6) cells/g dry mass) and then were estimated to be approximately 5 x 10(7) cells/g dry mass during the first 4 days following production. Culturable aerobic heterotrophic organisms (fungi plus bacteria) ranged between 10(4) and 10(5) CFU/g dry mass during the initial 4 day period, and lactic acid bacteria increased from 36 to 10(3) CFU/g dry mass over this same period. At 9 days, total viable bacteria and yeasts and (or) molds topped 10(8) CFU/g dry mass and lactic acid bacteria approached 10(6) CFU/g dry mass. Community phospholipid fatty acid analysis indicated a stable microbial community over the first 4 days of storage. Thirteen morphologically distinct isolates were recovered, of which 10 were yeasts and molds from 6 different genera, 2 were strains of the lactic-acid-producing Pediococcus pentosaceus and only one was an aerobic heterotrophic bacteria, Micrococcus luteus. The microbiology of DWG is fundamental to the assessment of spoilage, deleterious effects (e.g., toxins), or beneficial effects (e.g., probiotics) in its use as feed or in alternative applications.     

Facile production of chitin from crab shells using ionic liquid and citric acid

Facile production of chitin from crab shells was performed by direct extraction using an ionic liquid, 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide (AMIMBr), followed by demineralization using citric acid. First, dried crab shells were treated with AMIMBr at elevated temperatures to extract chitin. Supernatants separated by centrifugation were then subjected to a chelating treatment with an aqueous solution of citric acid to achieve demineralization. The precipitated extracts were filtered and dried. The isolated material was subjected to X-ray diffraction, IR, (1)H NMR, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and thermal gravimetric analysis; the results indicated the structure of chitin. On the basis of the IR spectra, the degree of deacetylation in the samples obtained was calculated to be <7%. Furthermore, the protein content was <0.1% and the M(w) values were 0.7-2.2×10(5).     

胆汁酸盐和低pH值对乳酸菌活性的影响

本文比较了几种乳酸菌对胆汁酸盐的耐受性和ｐＨ值的残活能力。研究结果表明,在０．２％的ＭＲＳ或ＢＭ培养基上,婴儿双歧杆菌的生长速率受到的抑制最小,依次为嗜酸乳杆菌、保加利亚乳杆菌和嗜热链球菌。胆汁酸盐对其生长的完全抑制浓度分别为１．５％、１．２％、０．５％和０．３％。在ｐＨ３时,嗜热链球菌活菌数量降低较为明显,在ｐＨ２时,在３７℃１ｈ过程中,婴儿双歧杆菌活菌数量基本不变;嗜酸乳杆菌在３７℃２０ｍｉｎ后,活菌数量迅速降低;保加利亚乳杆菌数量在３７℃２０ｍｉｎ时几乎为零。     

Growth, maintenance and fermentation pattern of the salt-tolerant lactic acid bacterium Tetragenococcus halophila in anaerobic glucose limited retention cultures

The homofermentative lactic acid bacterium Tetragenococcus halophila showed mixed acid fermentation at low growth-rates under glucose limiting conditions and in the presence of 10% NaCl. Maximum growth yields in fermentors with cell retention were not affected by pH, but maintenance requirement was at pH 5.2 four times higher than at pH 7.0. Despite the high salt-concentration of the medium, maintenance requirements were low compared to other lactic acid bacteria. The possible causes of the observed differences in maintenance requirements are discussed.     

Lactic acid fermentation of food waste for swine feed

This study was conducted to determine the effects of lactic acid bacteria (LAB, Lactobacillus salivarius) inoculation on the microbial, physical and chemical properties of food waste mixture (FWM) stored at ambient temperature (25 degrees C) for 10 and 30 days. A complete pig diet including restaurant food waste, bakery by-product, barley and wheat bran, and broiler poultry litter was amended with LAB at the levels of 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.5% and 1.0% and fermented anaerobically. These treatments were compared with intact FWM before storage and non-anaerobically stored FWM. Non-anaerobic storage of FWM showed microbial putrefaction with the loss (P < 0.05) of water and water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) and increases (P < 0.005) in protein and fiber. Anaerobic fermentation of FWM with or without LAB seemed effective in both 10- and 30-day-storage. The addition of LAB inoculants to FWM showed a linear trend (P < 0.05) toward an increase in the number of total and lactic acid bacteria and toward the nutritional improvement with WSC increased and fiber decreased. Long-term (30 days) storage resulted in consistent reduction (P < 0.05) in numbers of total and lactic acid bacteria and pH and showed little change in chemical components, compared with short-term (10 days) storage. On the basis of these results, LAB inoculation improved fermentative characteristics of FWM. Among anaerobic treatments, further WSC increase and NDF reduction did not occur (P > 0.05) when LAB-added levels were over 0.2%. Based on these observations the optimum level of LAB addition to FWM was 0.2%.     

Influence of pH on antimicrobial activity of organic acids against rabbit enteropathogenic strain of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis>

Susceptibility of the rabbit enteropathogenic strain Escherichia coli C6 (O128 serogroup) to C6-C14 fatty acids, oleic, citric, lactic and fumaric acid at 5 mg/mL was determined by the plating technique in the near-neutral pH region (pH approximately 6.5), and in a weakly acid and acid environment (pH 5.4 +/- 0.1 and 2.2-2.5, respectively). In the near-neutral pH region caproic and caprylic acid reduced the concentration of viable cells by 3 and 6 orders, respectively. At lower pH the bactericidal effect of caproic acid remained similar, but caprylic acid decreased the concentration of viable cells to < 100/mL. The bactericidal activity of capric acid was low at pH 6.5 but increased at pH 5.3. High environmental acidity was intrinsically bactericidal and at very low pH the effects of fatty acids were thus less pronounced. Citric acid reduced the counts of viable cells to 1/10. Antimicrobial activity of other acids examined was marginal or absent. Medium-chain fatty acids, caprylic and, to a lesser extent, also caproic and capric acid were better antimicrobials than other organic acids examined; the antimicrobial activity of fatty acids toward the C6 strain was pH-dependent. Beneficial effects of citric, lactic and fumaric acid reported by animal nutritionists are thus probably related to factors other than their direct antimicrobial action.