Semi-continuous Carotenoid Production in Bioreactor from Phaffia rhodozyma Using Agro-industrial Residues

Abstract

This work has studied the semi-continuous process for carotenoids production in the bioreactor by Phaffia rhodozyma (Y-17268) using agro-industrial residues as substrate. The kinetics process was evaluated using different cuts (25, 50, and 75%) every 96 h, until 288 h, to achieve a high level of productivity in total carotenoids. In a period of 192 h was obtained the maximum total carotenoids concentration (477 μg/g) with agro-industrial residues (100 g/L corn maceration water, 100 g/L crude glycerol, and 20 g/L rice parboiling water), under the following conditions: 250 rpm agitation rate, 1.5 vvm aeration rate, 25ºC, pH initial 4.0, with 50% working volume cut. It was obtained 42.51 μg/L .h of maximum productivity on total carotenoids, 0.063 g/L. h the maximum productivity on cells, and 0.067 h-1 specific maximum growth speeds. In this way, it was possible to achieve high production of carotenoids in a semi-continuous process and is a sustainable option to obtain this colorant on an industrial scale.