Patent ID: 7341854

Claim:
A process for the production of vitamin C from D-sorbitol, L-sorbose, L-sorbosone or L-gulose comprising the steps of: (a) cultivating a microorganism in an aqueous nutrient-medium containing D-sorbitol, L-sorbose, L-sorbosone or L-gulose at a pH in the range of about 4.0 to about 9.0 and in a temperature range from about 13° C. to about 36° C. for about 1 to about 5 days, wherein the microorganism is selected from the group consisting of Gluconobacter oxydans DSM 4025 (FERM BP-3812), a microorganism belonging to the genus Gluconobacter and having identifying characteristics of G. oxydans DSM 4025 (FERM BP-3812) and mutants thereof, and (b) isolating and purifying the microbial produced vitamin C directly from the fermentation medium.