Valorisation of cheese whey for ectoine production by Halomonas neptunia

Abstract

The production of ectoine, a valuable compound with significant potential as an osmoprotectant, antioxidant, macromolecule protector and anti‐inflammatory agent, was achieved by a lactose‐utilising bacterial strain. We explore the feasibility of using cheese whey, a waste product rich in lactose and amino acids, as a growth medium. The optimisation of various parameters was conducted to maximise ectoine yield. The highest ectoine production was achieved using 50% diluted whey, pH 6.50, 10% NaCl, 150 rpm and 30°C. This is the first study in which whey was efficiently utilised to produce ectoine by Halomonas neptunia.