Purification of corn (Zea mays Var. indentata) fermented by Bifidobacterium brevis through microfiltration membrane as source of natural folic acid for functional food Free

Horse dent corn (Zea mays var. indentata) has potential use as stock of natural folic acid in order to increase smartness for infants and kids. Purification of yellow corn fermented by Bifidobacterium brevis (B. brevis) inoculum (biomass A) and white corn fermented by B. brevis inoculum (biomass B) were conducted through microfiltration (MF) membrane fitted in dead-end stirred filtration cell (DESFC) at room temperature, stirrer rotation speed 200, 300 and 400 rpm, and pressure 20 and 40 psia for 30 minutes. The result of experiment activities showed that interaction among three kind of treatments affected on composition, particularly folic acid and domination of folic acid. Based on optimization of folic acid, the best treatment on biomass A and B by means of MF membrane was achieved at stirrer rotation speed of 300 rpm and pressure of 40 psia, respectively. In this optimum condition was resulted biomass concentrate of A and biomass concentrate of B with compositions of folic acid of 194.48 µg/mL and 246.96 µg/mL, total solids of 7.69 mg/mL and 54.30 mg/mL, dissolved protein of 0.13 mg/mL and 0.21 mg/mL, total acids of 0.10 % and 0.20 %, reducing sugars of 0.38 mg/mL and 22.64 mg/mL, and total sugars of 0.39 mg/mL and 7.09 mg/mL, respectively. In this optimum condition, biomass A and B demonstrated domination of folic acid monomer with molecular weight (MW) 442.69 Dalton (Da.) and 442.50 Da., and relative intensities of 60 % and 100 % at mass spectra m/z 442 – 444.