Lactic acid is a compound produced by bacteria and used in countless products, from food preservation to skincare and pharmaceuticals. However, detecting lactic acid directly in bacterial cultures has proven difficult. Scientists typically rely on enzyme-based tests or complex laboratory techniques that require significant preparation beforehand. Researchers developed a new approach using Raman spectroscopy, a light-based detection method that doesn’t require enzymes or extensive sample processing. They tested it on two common lactic acid-producing bacteria and successfully identified the characteristic signal of lactic acid in their growth media. The method worked across different pH levels and could detect both chemical forms of lactic acid.
The researchers also created visual maps showing where lactic acid was distributed throughout living cultures, revealing it spread diffusely as the cells actively produced and released it. This technology offers a simpler, less invasive way to monitor lactic acid production and could eventually be integrated into industrial bioreactors for real-time tracking. (Source: Talanta, via PubMed.)
Source: PubMed — read the full article
