D-xylose fermentation by Candida shehatae and pichia stipitis at low dissolved oxygen levels in fed-batch cultures

Abstract

The fermentation of D-xylose byCandida shehatae andPichia stipitis was studied in fed-batch fermentations using dissolved oxygen tension (DOT) control in the range of 0.2 to 1.4% air saturation. The response of these two yeasts to DOT was significantly different. Whereas the ethanol yield withC. shehatae was 0.35 to 0.38 g.g−1 at all DOT levels, that ofP. stipitis decreased from 0.44 at a zero DOT reading to 0.19 g.g−1 at 1.4% DOT.