Avances en reciclaje y gestión de residuos

Immobilization of Cells for Erythritol Production

Abstract

Jim Park*

Today’s generation, commercial erythritol is produced through free-cell fermentation with fungi in liquid media containing high concentrations of pure carbon sources. Alternative fermentation techniques, such as cell immobilisation, could result in an economic and energy improvement for erythritol-producing factories. The current study describes for the first time the feasibility of achieving cell immobilisation during erythritol production. Moniliella pollinis cells were successfully immobilised on a cotton cloth and placed inside a 2-L bioreactor, where they were fed red grape must supplemented with yeast extract. The similar results obtained for free and immobilised cells demonstrate the effectiveness of the immobilisation system. As a result, the proposed method for erythritol bioproduction eliminates the need for continuous preparation of fungal inocula before each fermentation batch,lowering reagent and energy costs.