High-titer production of astaxanthin by the semi-industrial fermentation of Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous.
An improved semi-industrial process for astaxanthin production by fermentation of Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous has been developed. The culture medium was designed at the flask scale, reaching an astaxanthin cellular content of 3.0 mgg(-1) cell weight and a volumetric yield of 119 mgL(-1) broth. Astaxanthin production in flask was significantly improved by white light (4.0 mgg(-1) and 221 mgL(-1)), and by ultraviolet light (4.4 mgg(-1) and 235 mgL(-1)). The scale-up to 10- and 800-L fermentors was developed by feeding with glucose. Representative data for illuminated fermentation processes are presented and discussed at the 10-L scale, where 420 mgL(-1) (4.7 mgg(-1)) astaxanthin were produced, and the 800-L scale, with productivities of 350 mgL(-1) (4.1 mgg(-1)) astaxanthin. The purity of the astaxanthin in the broth was about 84%, with accumulation of the following carotenoids other than astaxanthin: 4% beta-carotene, 4% canthaxanthin, 5% HDCO, 1% zeaxanthin and 2% phoenicoxanthin. This technology can be easily scaled-up to an industrial application for the production of this xanthophyll widely demanded nowadays.
R&D Biology, Antibióticos S.A., Avenida de Antibióticos 59-61, 24009 León, Spain.
Juan Luis
JL
de la Fuente
Marta
M
Rodríguez-Sáiz
Carmen
C
Schleissner
Bruno
B
Díez
Enrique
E
Peiro
José Luis
JL
Barredo
D001487:Basidiomycota / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D018533:Biomass; D005285:Fermentation; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007218:Industrial Microbiology / Q000379:methods*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D011312:Pressure; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry
D024341:Xanthophylls; C005948:astaxanthine; D005947:Glucose; D010100:Oxygen