Effect of inoculum level of xylitol production from rice straw hemicellulose hydrolysate by Candida guilliermondii.

The effect of inoculum level on xylitol production by Candida guilliermondii was evaluated in a rice straw hemicellulose hydrolysate. High initial cell density did not show a positive effect in this bioconversion since increasing the initial cell density from 0.67 g L-1 to 2.41 g L-1 decreased both the rate of xylose utilization and xylitol accumulation. The maximum xylitol yield (0.71 g g-1) and volumetric productivity (0.56 g L-1 h-1) were reached with an inoculum level of 0.9 g L-1. These results show that under appropriate inoculum conditions rice straw hemicellulose hydrolysate can be converted into xylitol by the yeast C. guilliermondii with efficiency values as high as 77% of the theoretical maximum.