BACKGROUNDSuccinic acid (SA) biotechnological production represents a promising alternative to the fossil-fuel based chemical production route. The goal of this study was to develop a SA production process conducted with biofilms of Actinobacillus succinogenes and fed with cheese whey, a lactose-rich by-product of the cheese-making processes. RESULTSThe screening between five commercial biofilm carriers, based on a statistical analysis of the process rates and yields, led to the selection of Glaxstone (R), a sintered glass porous material. The attached-cell performances obtained when SA production was fed with cheese whey or with pure lactose were equivalent. The feasibility of a repeated batch process of SA production by biofilms of A. succinogenes was demonstrated in a Glaxstone (R)-filled 1 L packed bed bioreactor, and an effective sequence of biofilm growth and SA production phases was identified. A SA productivity of 0.72 g(SA) L-packed bed(-1) h(-1), a SA specific production rate of 0.18 g(SA) g(protein)(-1) h(-1) and a biofilm concentration of about 4 g L-packed bed(-1) were obtained. CONCLUSIONSSA bioproduction under biofilm conditions from organic by-products such as cheese whey is a feasible and promising process. This work represents the first attempt to develop a biofilm-based process of SA bioproduction from cheese whey. (c) 2017 Society of Chemical Industry