UTILIZATION OF DATES IN THE FERMENTATIVE FORMATION OF CITRIC-ACID BY YARROWIA-LIPOLYTICA

Yarrowia lipolytica NRRL Y-1095 was found to be the most potent organi sm for citric acid formation. Utilization of different Barni date-coat sugar extract concentrations in the fermentation medium as carbon sou rce was found to be good carbon in concentration of 25 mg/ml. Date-see d hydrolysate as nitrogen source for citric acid formation was suitabl e due to the presence of miscellaneous nitrogen sources, especially am ino acids. The yield of citric acid was increased with the increase of phosphorus concentration reaching its maximum when the medium was sup plemented with about 1.0 mg KH2PO4/ml. On using different oxaloacetic acid concentrations in the fermentation medium, it was found that citr ic acid was increased with the increase of oxaloacetic acid concentrat ion reaching its maximum when the medium was supplemented with 0.4 mg/ ml.