Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Lactic acid from supermarket supplies?

Chemgineer - 8-4-2024 at 13:21

I am wondering if I can produce lactic acid from rice water and milk via fermentation.

Once the cuds have been removed I wonder If i could fractionally distil the whey to get a reasonable concentration at a boiling point of 122 deg C.

Has anyone had a go at this? I could even make some cheese while i'm waiting :)

Hexabromobenzene - 8-4-2024 at 14:08

Because of the contamination of the spores of clostridia, you can get an butyric acid or butanol fermentation instead of lactic acid. It is even easier and cheaper to get butyric acid with fermentation than getting alcohol

Molded bread, whitewashing, hot water and peel potatoes. This is all you need
See:
https://www.sciencemadness.org/whisper/viewthread.php?tid=15...

Chemgineer - 8-4-2024 at 14:33

Quote: Originally posted by Hexabromobenzene  
Because of the contamination of the spores of clostridia, you can get an butyric acid or butanol fermentation instead of lactic acid. It is even easier and cheaper to get butyric acid with fermentation than getting alcohol

Molded bread, whitewashing, hot water and peel potatoes. This is all you need
See:
https://www.sciencemadness.org/whisper/viewthread.php?tid=15...


That's very interesting, but as butyric acid has a much higher boiling point than lactic acid, I should be able to tell which one i have?

Hexabromobenzene - 8-4-2024 at 14:46

Usually, during fermentation, acid is obtained in the form of salts. For example, calcium lactate or calcium butyrate in the form of very diluted solution (2-5%). This solution can be concentrated, for example, freezing
But calcium lactate can be fermentated to calcium butyrate by clostridia

You can find a guide to growing various bacteria in textbooks of microbiology

unionised - 9-4-2024 at 04:19

Lactic acid is used in some kettle descalers so it is a supermarket supply (if you find the right store/ brand).

Texium - 9-4-2024 at 05:58

It’s also sold in pure form at homebrew stores

EF2000 - 9-4-2024 at 08:56

I guess you'll find that video interesting: sharpest Cucumber kitchen knife in the world (yes, cucumber knife).
Using rice, corn and cucumbers, that strange Japanese guy makes lactic acid, then carbon-filled polylactic acid, and then a knife.
Why a knife? My guess: it's some Taoist hermit practice of self-improvement through applied materials science.

You will not make cheese with that procedure though. Byproducts include a jar of pickles and (untasty) yogurt (from test for Lactobacillus).

Chemgineer - 15-4-2024 at 07:43

Quote: Originally posted by EF2000  
I guess you'll find that video interesting: sharpest Cucumber kitchen knife in the world (yes, cucumber knife).
Using rice, corn and cucumbers, that strange Japanese guy makes lactic acid, then carbon-filled polylactic acid, and then a knife.
Why a knife? My guess: it's some Taoist hermit practice of self-improvement through applied materials science.

You will not make cheese with that procedure though. Byproducts include a jar of pickles and (untasty) yogurt (from test for Lactobacillus).


That certainly is a strange Japanese guy!

UC235 - 15-4-2024 at 18:35

I admire the interest in producing it from scratch, but 60% sodium lactate solution is readily available for home soapmakers and is not in any way suspicious to purchase a gallon or so of.

Precipitates - 15-4-2024 at 20:10

It's not impossible to get high-purity lactic acid (depending on your set-up), and could be an interesting experiment if you would like to explore the science*

Lactic Acid Production

10.1 and 10.2.

*As per posts above, if you just want lactic acid, buy it directly.