Nitrogen-dependent regulation of gluconic and/or citric acid production by Aspergillus niger

Surface culture fermentation using Aspergillus niger was studied for gluconic and citric acid production at different C/N ratios. A culture of A. niger was found to produce either gluconic acid alone, a mixture of gluconic and citric acid, or citric acid alone depending on the level of nitrogen in the medium (4 to 18 mM). Glucose oxidase from the mycelial mat was also analyzed at different levels of nitrogen in the media. By choosing the level of nitrogen in the medium at the start of fermentation, it is possible to produce either of the two acids as the dominant product or the two together as a mixture.