Cell reuse was compared with conventional batch culture for lactic acid fermentation, the objective was to simplify the batch process and to alleviate the need for added nitrogen. At high levels of nitrogen supplementation to the culture medium (20 g dm(-3) yeast extract and 5 g dm(-3) each of tryptic and pancreatic casein peptones), similar mean production rates were obtained with partial cell reuse and the conventional batch process, without any additional gain when cells were initially reactivated at acidic pH. On the other hand, cell reuse with an initial period without pH control appeared particularly effective for low levels of nitrogen supplementation (5 g dm(-3) yeast extract): a 57% increase in the mean production rate with regard to the conventional batch process was obtained.