Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Vol.121, 673-683, 2005
Sugarcane bagasse as raw material and immobilization support for xylitol production
Xylose-to-xylitol bioconversion was performed utilizing Candida guilliermondii immobilized in sugarcane bagasse and cultured in Erlenmeyer flasks using sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate as the source of xylose. Fermentations were carried out according to a factorial design, and the independent variables considered were treatment, average diameter, and amount of bagasse used as support for cell immobilization. By increasing the amount of support, the xylitol yield decreased, whereas the biomass yield increased. The diameter of the support did not influence xylitol production, and treatment of the bagasse with hexamethylene diamine prior to fermentation resulted in the highest amount of immobilized cells.
Keywords:xylitol;cell immobilization;sugarcane bagasse;Candida guilliermondii;hemicellulosic hydrolysate