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The fermentation of hexose and pentose sugars by Candida shehatae and Pichia stipitis

  • Biotechnology
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Summary

The fermentation by Candida shehatae and Pichia stipitis of xylitol and the various sugars which are liberated upon hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass was investigated. Both yeasts produced ethanol from d-glucose, d-mannose, d-galactose and d-xylose. Only P. stipitis fermented d-cellobiose, producing 6.5 g·l-1 ethanol from 20 g·l-1 cellobiose within 48 h. No ethanol was produced from l-arabinose, l-rhamnose or xylitol. Diauxie was evident during the fermentation of a sugar mixture. Following the depletion of glucose, P. stipitis fermented galactose, mannose, xylose and cellobiose simultaneously with no noticeable preceding lag period. A similar fermentation pattern was observed with C. shehatae, except that it failed to utilize cellobiose even though it grew on cellobiose when supplied as the sole sugar. P. stipitis produced considerably more ethanol from the sugar mixture than C. shehatae, primarily due to its ability to ferment cellobiose. In general P. stipitis exhibited a higher volumetric rate and yield of ethanol production. This yeast fermented glucose 30–50% more rapidly than xylose, whereas the rates of ethanol production from these two sugars by C. shehatae were similar. P. stipitis had no absolute vitamin requirement for xylose fermentation, but biotin and thiamine enhanced the rate and yield of ethanol production significantly.

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Abbreviations

μmax :

Maximum specific growth rate, h-1

Q p :

Maximum volumetric rate of ethanol production, calculated from the slope of the ethanol vs. time curve, g·(l·h)-1

q p :

Maximum specific rate of ethanol production, g·(g cells·h)

Y p/s :

Ethanol yield coefficient, g ethanol·(g substrate utilized)-1

Y x/s :

Cell yield coefficient, g biomass·(g substrate utilized)-1

E :

Efficiency of substrate utilization, g substrate consumed·(g initial substrate)-1·100

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, University of the Orange Free State, P.O. Box 339, 9300, Bloemfontein, Republic of South Africa

    J. C. du Preez, M. Bosch & B. A. Prior

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  1. J. C. du Preez
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  2. M. Bosch
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  3. B. A. Prior
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du Preez, J.C., Bosch, M. & Prior, B.A. The fermentation of hexose and pentose sugars by Candida shehatae and Pichia stipitis . Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 23, 228–233 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00261920

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00261920

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