OPTIMIZATION OF CELL YIELD OF CANDIDA-KRUSEI SO1 AND SACCHAROMYCES SPLK3G CULTURED IN SORGHUM HYDROLYSATE

The fed-batch approach to the production of single-cell protein (SCP) from synthetic glucose medium or sorghum hydrolysate by Candida krusei SOI and Saccharomyces sp. LK3G was studied in aerobic conditions; The results obtained with a synthetic glucose showed better growth parame ters under fed-batch conditions than under batch conditions. Biomass y ield (Y-x/s) was increased by as much as 64% for Candida krusei and fo r Saccharomyces sp. LK3G by as much as 70%. Volumetric cell productivi ty was also improved for both yeasts: 0.75 g/l.h in fed-batch conditio ns against 0.68 g/l.h in batch conditions for Candida krusei SOI and 0 .63 g/l.h against 0.56 g/l.h for Saccharomyces sp. LK3G. Chemical anal yses of yeast cells grown on either synthetic medium or on sorghum hyd rolysate showed that the fed-batch process did not alter the nutrition al qualify of either yeast strain: in these conditions their protein c ontent (47-50%) and their amino acid profiles compared favourably with the Food and Agricultural Organization references. Furthermore, both yeast strains were good sources of mineral salts. Copyright (C) 1996 E lsevier Science Ltd.