EVALUATION OF SUGAR-CANE HEMICELLULOSE HYDROLYZATE FOR CULTIVATION OFYEASTS AND FILAMENTOUS FUNGI

Sugar cane bagasse hemicellulosic fraction submitted to hydrolytic tre atment with 100 mg of sulfuric acid per gram of dry mass, at 140 degre es C for 20 min, was employed as a substrate for microbial protein pro duction, Among the 22 species of microorganisms evaluated, Candida tro picalis IZ 1824 showed TRS consumption rate of 89.8%, net cell mass of 11,8 g L-1 and yield coefficient (Y-x/s) of 0.50 g g(-1). The hydroly zate supplemented with rice bran (20.0 g L-1), P2O5 (2.0 g L-1) and ur ea (2.0 g L-1) provided a TRS consumption rate of 86.3% and a cell mas s of 8.4 g L-1, At pH 4.0 cellular metabolism was inhibited, whereas a t pH 6.0 the highest yield was obtained, The presence of furfural (2.0 g L-1) hydroxymethylfurfural (0.08 g L-1) and acetic acid (3.7 g L-1) in the hydrolyzate did not interfere with cultivation at pH 6.0.