Abstract

Erythritol is a natural compound of great interest in food production because of its very low caloric value, lack of off-taste and lack of side-effects from the gastric system even when consumed with in excess. In the present study, the effect of agitation rates from 500 to 1100 rev/min on biomass and erythritol production on glycerol media by an acetate-negative mutant of Yarrowia lipolytica Wratislavia K1 in batch culture was studied. At a constant aeration rate of 0.36 vvm, the agitation rate between 500 and 900 rev/min wasfound suitable for efficient erythritol production. In the pure glycerol-containing media the erythritol production of 40.7 g/l, corresponding to a 0.28 g/g yield, was achieved at 800 rev/min. The application of crude glycerol at 800 rev/min and 0.6 vvm elicited an increase in erythritol concentration to 58.2 g/l corresponding to a 0.38 g/g yield and a productivity of 0.78 g/lh.

Key words: Yarrowia lipolytica, erythritol, glycerol, agitation rate, aeration rate.