Optimization of Fermentation Conditions for Erythritol Production by Moniliella mellis and Wickerhamomyces anomalus

Erythritol production by sequential fermentation with Moniliella mellis and Wickerhamomyces anomalus was investigated in this report.The optimal fermentation conditions for Moniliella mellis C-703 were obtained by one-factor-ata-time design as follows: the fermentation medium containing glucose 250 g/L and yeast extract 17.5 g/L at initial pH 5.5,20 mL of the medium in a 250-mL f lask and 28 ℃.After 6 d of fermentation under these conditions,the yield of erythritol was 84.6 g/L.This process was followed by fed-batch fermentation with the same strain in a 5-L fermentor for 10 d,yielding 114 g/L of erythritol fermented broth.The second fermentation was performed by inoculation of Wickerhamomyces anomalus C-430.As a result,most of the byproduct glycerol was removed and erythritol crystals were obtained with a yield of 93.2% after refi ning and crystallization.Hence sequential fermentation with Moniliella mellis and Wickerhamomyces anomalus has a promising prospect for the application in erythritol production.