Statistical optimization of medium components for enhanced riboflavin production by a UV-mutant of Eremothecium ashbyii

The nutritional requirements for riboflavin production by a UV-mutant of Er emothecium ashbyii UV-18-57 were optimized using indigenous agroindustrial by-products. The medium components considered include molasses as carbon so urce. sesame seed cake (SSC) as nitrogen source, yeast extract, KH2PO4, NaC l, MgSO4 7H(2)O and Tween-80 in shake flask experiments. Initial screening using a Plackett-Burman statistical design identified four components, i.e. , molasses, SSC, KH2PO4 and MgSO4 7H(2)O as significantly, influencing ribo flavin production (confidence levels above 80%). Response surface methodolo gy was applied to determine the mutual interactions between these four comp onents and optimal levels for riboflavin production. The optimal concentrat ions for enhanced production of riboflavin were: (g/l) molasses = 30.85; SS C = 39.80; KH2PO4 = 1.484 and MgSO4 7H(2)O = 0.072. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scien ce Ltd. All rights reserved.