Upstream parameters affecting the cell growth and xylitol production by Candida guilliermondii FTI 20037.

The effects of yeast extract (0-10 g/l), methanol (0-10% v/v), acetic acid (0-1.0 g/l), furfural (0-0.5 g/l), glucose (0-30 g/l), inoculum age (15-70 h) and product concentration (18-230 g/l) on the xylose-xylitol conversion by Candida guilliermondii FTI 20037 were studied. The xylitol specific productivity increased about 35% at a yeast extract concentration of 1.0 g/l, whereas glucose showed a strong inhibitory effect on the xylitol production and a stimulating effect on the growth of C. guilliermondii. Methanol, acetic acid and furfural under the employed concentrations did not show any positive effect neither on the growth or on the xylose-xylitol conversion by the yeast. The inoculum age showed a strong influence on xylitol formation and the best fermentative parameters were attained using a 40-h inoculum age. A xylitol concentration in the fermentation medium higher than 80 g/l inhibited markedly the xylitol productivity by the yeast C. guilliermondii.