| Abstract: | ![]()
Peat hydrolysates prepared with and without acid and under various temperatures were tested in the growth of the yeast Phaffia rhodozyma ATCC 24202, which synthesizes carotenoids, including astaxanthin. The hydrolysate that resulted in the best growth of P. rhodozyma biomass was subsequently used as substrate for the submerged culture of the yeast, and the growth conditions were optimized. Those studied included initial substrate concentration, initial pH, incubation temperature, fermentation time and agitation rate. The optimum growth conditions produced approximately 4.6 g dm?3 of dry biomass with a crude protein content of 47% (dry weight basis). The mean astaxanthin content of the yeast cultivated under these conditions, 1567 μg g?1 dry yeast, was also the highest produced in this work, and compares favourably with other results reported in the literature. |
