Polysaccharide production by Aureobasidium pullulans cells immobilized by entrapment

Abstract

Cells of the fungus Aureobasidium pullulans ATCC 201253 were entrapped within 4% agar cubes or 5% calcium alginate beads and were examined for their production of the polysaccharide pullulan. The immobilized fungal cells were utilized twice in batch cultures for 7 days of polysaccharide production in medium containing corn syrup as a carbon source. The entrapped cells produced higher pullulan levels during the second cycle when compared to the first cycle polysaccharide levels. The agar-entrapped cells exhibited a higher level of productivity and pullulan content than did the alginate-entrapped cells during both production cycles.