Concept:
Industrial microbiology utilizes specific microorganisms as "cell factories" to produce bulk chemicals.
• Citric acid is one of the most widely used organic acids in the food and beverage industry.
• Finding a microbe that can tolerate high acidity and overproduce the acid is key.
Step 1: The Preferred Microorganism.
The filamentous fungus Aspergillus niger is the primary organism used for over 90% of the world's citric acid production.
It is highly efficient at converting cheap carbohydrate sources (like molasses) into citric acid.
Step 2: Fermentation Conditions.
The process is typically carried out under conditions of nutrient limitation (especially low manganese and phosphate).
These conditions "stress" the fungus, causing it to leak large amounts of citric acid into the surrounding broth.
Final Answer:
Citric acid is produced on an industrial scale using the fungus Aspergillus Niger.