Micellar impact of Sodium octadecyl sulfate on citric acid (H3Cit) biosynthesis by Aspergillus niger T-918

The present study investigates the micellar impact of sodium octadecyl sulfate (SOS), a longchain anionic surfactant, on the biosynthesis of citric acid (H3 Cit) by Aspergillus niger T-918. The research focuses on understanding how micellar interactions between SOS and the fungal cell membrane influence metabolic activity, substrate utilization, and overall citric acid yield. Batch fermentation experiments were conducted under controlled conditions, varying SOS concentrations to evaluate its effect on fungal growth, glucose consumption, and organic acid accumulation. Results revealed that low micellar concentrations of SOS enhanced citric acid production by improving membrane permeability and substrate transport efficiency. However, higher concentrations exhibited inhibitory effects on fungal growth and metabolic flux, likely due to surfactant-induced membrane destabilization. The study highlights the dual role of SOS micelles as both stimulatory and inhibitory agents in fungi processes, depending on their concentration and interaction dynamics. These findings suggest that controlled micellar modulation using SOS can be a promising strategy for optimizing citric acid fermentation by A. niger strains. In the present communication efficacy of Sodium octadecyl sulfate on citric acid biosynthesis by Aspergillus niger T-918 has been studied. It has been found that the micelles Sodium octadecyl sulfate has stimulatory impact on citric acid fermentation and enhances the yield of citric acid to an extent of 15.253 %higher in comparison to control under optimized conditions.