Kinetic study and modelling of the xylitol production using Candida parapsilosis in oxygen-limited culture conditions

Kinetic studies are presented for xylitol production and growth of the yeas t Candida parapsilosis ATCC 28474. The oxygen supply influence on xylitol p roduction from xylose was investigated. No metabolic activity was detected in anaerobic conditions. In contrast, it was found that under low aeration rates (0.1-0.2 vvm), xylitol is produced. Xylitol production decreases when air flow to reactor is augmented. An unstructured model is proposed for th e kinetic behaviour analysis of yeast growing in batch culture. A simplex m ethod was used for the estimation of model parameters. The parameter confid ence intervals were also calculated.