Production of riboflavin (vitamin B2) by hydrocarbon-utilizing yeasts.

Candida guilliermondii Wickerham was found to be superior to the other yeasts tested for growth yields and riboflavin production when cultivated on different carbohydrate and hydrocarbon-containing media. Among the refined petroleum fractions and cheap hydrocarbons tested, solar was selected as a carbon source best suited for the fermentation process. The highest growth yield and riboflavin output (10.64 mg/100 ml) by C. guilliermondii Wickerham were achieved by placing aliquots of 20 ml medium (pH 6.0) in 100 ml Erlenmeyer flasks and incubating the inoculated medium at 30 degrees C for 14 days in the dark.