Production of mannosylerythritol lipids by Candida antarctica from vegetable oils.

Abstract

Three tested stock-strains of Candida antarctica were found to produce biosurfactants, i.e., mixtures of 4 mannosylerythritol lipids. They were similar to those produced by isolated strain T-34, but differed in the compositions of the mixtures of the lipids. Strain T-34 was the best producer of the lipids as to total amounts. The strain produced the lipids from different vegetable oils, but failed to produce them from n-alkanes or carbohydrates. The supplementation of yeast extract increased the yield of the lipids. Under the optimal conditions in a shake culture, the concentration of the total lipids amounted to about 40 g/l after 8 days. During the cultivation, the composition of the mixture of the lipids was found to change.