UTILIZATION OF THE HYDROLYSATE OF EUCALYP TUS HEMICELLULOSE FOR PRODUCTION OF MICROBIAL PROTEIN

The hemicellulosic hydrolysate obtained by acid treatment of eucalyptu s chips was employed as a substrate for production of microbial protei n. Among the, twenty-one species of microorganisms evaluated, Paecilom yces variotti 10C-3764 showed the best performance, consuming 90% of t he total reducing carbohydrates present in the hydrolysate. Variation of the initial pH from 3.0 to 6.0 did not influence the production of biomass. Cultivation of this fungus in the presence of furfural reveal ed that it does not grow when the concentration of the inhibitor is hi gher than 1.89 g/L. A nutritional supplementation of the hydrolysate w ith rice bran and urea proved to be sufficient to produce a biomass wi th 34% protein.