The aim of this study was to explore propionic acid production via high density culture of Propionibacterium acidipropionici and recycling of cells. Results showed that final cells of P. acidipropionici from high density culture still had high metabolic activity for reuse. Using our process, 75.9 g l(-1) propionic acid was produced, which was 1.84-fold of that in fed-batch fermentation with low cell density (41.2 g l(-1)); the corresponding productivity was 100.0% higher than that in fed-batch fermentation with low cell density (0.16 g l(-1) h(-1)). This bioprocess may have potential for the industrial production of propionic acid. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.