Introduction of Glutamic Acid Solution
Glutamic Acid is an important non-essential amino acid widely found in nature and one of the primary components of proteins. Its sodium salt form, sodium glutamate (MSG, monosodium glutamate), is the most common food additive. Glutamic acid and its derivatives have extensive applications in pharmaceuticals, food, cosmetics, and agriculture.
The biological fermentation production of glutamic acid utilizes starchy raw materials (such as corn and cassava) as the primary carbon source, achieving industrial-scale production through four main stages: pretreatment, fermentation, extraction, and purification.
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Biological Fermentation Process Flow
Corn
01
Pretreatment Stage
Pretreatment Stage
Corn stored in a temporary warehouse is transported via a bucket elevator to the crusher’s temporary storage bin. After metering, it enters a hammer mill for crushing. The crushed material is conveyed by air to a cyclone separator, where the separated powder is transferred to a mixing tank via a screw conveyor, while dust is collected by a bag filter. Hot water and amylase are added to the mixing tank to form corn slurry, which is then pumped by a centrifugal pump to a jet liquefier. After the liquefied liquid is cooled, saccharifying enzyme is added for saccharification. The saccharified liquid is separated by a plate-and-frame filter press; the filter residue is dried by a tube bundle dryer and sold as feed raw material, while the clear sugar liquid is pumped to the fermentation workshop.
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02
Fermentation Stage
Fermentation Stage
The clear sugar liquid from the pretreatment workshop is used as the carbon source for fermentation. Qualified bacterial strains are inoculated, and sterile air is introduced. Temperature is controlled using internal and external coils, pH is automatically adjusted with ammonia water, and dissolved oxygen is regulated by adjusting air volume and pressure. The fermented broth is first stored in a transfer tank, then heated and sterilized via a heat exchanger. After separation by a plate-and-frame filter press, the liquid is sent to the extraction workshop, while the solid wet acid residue is dried in a tube bundle dryer, cooled by air transport, packaged, and sold externally.
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03
Extraction Stage
Extraction Stage
The fermentation filtrate is cooled and slowly adjusted to the isoelectric point of glutamic acid by adding hydrochloric acid. After 24 hours of stirring, α-type glutamic acid crystals form. The crystal slurry is separated by a centrifuge to obtain wet crystals. These wet crystals are dissolved in hot water, and the solution is passed through an activated carbon decolorization column to remove pigments. The glutamic acid is then adsorbed by a strong acid cation resin, eluted with ammonia water to obtain a high-purity glutamic acid solution, and the mother liquor is recycled to the fermentation pretreatment stage.
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04
Purification Stage
Purification Stage
The eluate is first concentrated using a double-effect falling film evaporator and then cooled. Seed crystals are added to induce β-type crystallization, and the wet crystals are separated by centrifugation. The wet crystals are dried to a low moisture content in a fluidized bed dryer, graded through a vibrating screen, and finally packaged by an automatic packaging machine (sealed and subjected to metal detection before storage).
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Glutamic Acid
COFCO Technology & Industry Technical Advantages
Innovations in Enzymatic Processes
High Purity and Green Production: Utilizing dual-enzyme cascade technology to significantly reduce byproduct formation, aligning with international environmental standards.
Breakthrough in Immobilization Technology: Employing magnetic nano-carriers to enable enzyme reuse, promoting continuous production and reducing overall energy consumption.
Innovations in Synthetic Biology
Strain Optimization: Using gene-editing technologies (e.g., CRISPR) to enhance Corynebacterium glutamicum, improving acid production efficiency and substrate utilization.
Multi-Enzyme Synergy: Developing multi-enzyme cascade systems, such as semi-synthetic artemisinin production, to expand the manufacturing of high-value derivatives (e.g., D-pyroglutamic acid).
Circular Economy Integration
Resource Utilization: Converting fermentation waste liquid into bacterial cellulose production, achieving wastewater COD reduction and resource regeneration.
 
MSG
Meat products
Dietary-supplement
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Soy sauce
Feed
Lysine production project
30,000 ton lysine production project, CIS
30,000 ton Lysine Production Project
Location:
Capacity: 30,000 ton/year
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Frequently Asked Questions
CIP Cleaning System
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CIP cleaning system device is a non-decomposable production equipment and a simple and safe automatic cleaning system. It is used in almost all food, beverage and pharmaceutical factories.
A Guide to Pressed and Extracted Oils
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There are significant differences between the pressed oil and extracted oil in terms of processing techniques, nutritional content, and raw material requirements.
Scope of Technical Service for Grain-based Biochemical Solution
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At the core of our operations are internationally advanced strains, processes, and production technologies.
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