Zymomonas mobilis as catalyst for the biotechnological production of sorbitol and gluconic acid

The conversion of glucose and fructose into gluconic acid (GA) and sorbitol (SOR) was conducted in a batch reactor with free (CTAB-treated or not) or immobilized cells of Zymomonas mobilis. High yields (more than 90%) of gluconic acid and sorbitol were attained at initial substrate concentration of 600 g/L (glucose plus fructose at 1:1 ratio), using cells with glucose-fructose-oxidoreductase activity of 75 U/L. The concentration of the products varied hyperbolically with time according to the equations (GA)=t(GA)(max)/(W(GA) +t), (SOR)=t (SOR)(max)/(W(Sor)+t), v(GA)=[W(GA) (GA)(max)]/(W(GA)+t)(2) and V(SOR)=[W(SOR) (SOR)(max)]/(W(SOR)+t)(2). Taking the test carried out with free CTAB-treated cells as an example, the constant parameters were (GA)(max)= 541 g/L, (SOR)(max)=552 g/L, W(GA)=4.8h, W(SOR)=4.9h, upsilon(GA)=112.7 g/L. and upsilon(SOR)=112.7 g/L.     

Gibberellic acid production by free and immobilized cells in different culture systems

Gibberellic acid production was studied in different fermentation systems. Free and immobilized cells of Gibberella fujikuroi cultures in shakeflask, stirred and fixed-bed reactors were evaluated for the production of gibberellic acid (GA₃). Gibberellic acid production with free cells cultured in a stirred reactor reached 0.206 g/L and a yield of 0.078 g of GA₃/g biomass.     

Diffusion Coefficients for Binary, Ternary, and Polydisperse Solutions from Peak-Width Analysis of Taylor Dispersion Profiles

Binary mutual diffusion coefficients D can be estimated from the width at half height W _1/2 of Taylor dispersion profiles using D=(ln 2)r ² t _R/(3W ² h) and values of the retention time t _R and dispersion tube radius r. The generalized expression D _h=−(ln h)r ² t _R/(3W ² _h ) is derived to evaluate diffusion coefficients from peak widths W _h measured at other fractional heights (e.g., (h = 0.1, 0.2,…,0.9). Tests show that averaging the D _h values from binary profiles gives mutual diffusion coefficients that are as accurate and precise as those obtained by more elaborate nonlinear least-squares analysis. Dispersion profiles for ternary solutions usually consist of two superimposed pseudo-binary profiles. Consequently, D _h values for ternary profiles generally vary with the fractional peak height h. Ternary profiles with constant D _h values can however be constructed by taking appropriate linear combinations of profiles generated using different initial concentration differences. The invariant D _h values and corresponding initial concentration differences give the eigenvalues and eigenvectors for the evaluation of the ternary diffusion coefficient matrix. Dispersion profiles for polymer samples of N i-mers consist of N superimposed pseudo-binary profiles. The edges of these profiles are enriched in the heavier polymers owing to the decrease in polymer diffusion coefficients with increasing polymer molecular weight. The resulting drop in D _h with decreasing fractional peak height provides a signature of the polymer molecular weight distribution. These features are illustrated by measuring the dispersion of mixed polyethylene glycols.     

Simultaneous Saccharification of Inulin and Starch Using Commercial Glucoamylase and the Subsequent Bioconversion to High Titer Sorbitol and Gluconic Acid

A new bioprocess for production of sorbitol and gluconic acid from two low-cost feedstocks, inulin and cassava starch, using a commercially available enzyme was proposed in this study. The commercial glucoamylase GA-L NEW from Genencor was found to demonstrate a high inulinase activity for hydrolysis of inulin into fructose and glucose. The glucoamylase was used to replace the expensive and not commercially available inulinase enzyme for simultaneous saccharification of inulin and starch into high titer glucose and fructose hydrolysate. The glucose and fructose in the hydrolysate were converted into sorbitol and gluconic acid using immobilized whole cells of the recombinant Zymomonas mobilis strain. The high gluconic acid concentration of 193 g/L and sorbitol concentration of 180 g/L with the overall yield of 97.3 % were obtained in the batch operations. The present study provided a practical production method of sorbitol and gluconic acid from low cost feedstocks and enzymes.     

Microcalorimetric investigation of the effect of berberine alkaloids from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Coptis chinensis</Emphasis> Franch on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Staphylococcus aureus</Emphasis> growth

The inhibitory effects of three berberine alkaloids (BAs) from rhizome of Coptis chinensis Franch, a traditional Chinese medicinal (TCM) herb, on Staphylococcus aureus growth were investigated by microcalorimetry. The power-time curves of S. aureus with and without BAs were acquired; meanwhile the extent and duration of inhibitory effects on the metabolism were evaluated by studying the growth rate constant (k), half inhibitory ratio (IC₅₀), maximum heat-output power (P _max), peak time of maximum heat-output power (t _p) and total heat production (Q _t). The value of k of S. aureus in the presence of the three BAs decreased with the increasing concentrations of BAs. Moreover, P _max was reduced and the value of t _p increased with increasing concentrations of the three drugs. The inhibitory activity varied with different drugs. The values of IC₅₀ of the three BAs are respectively, 101.4 μg/mL for berberine, 241.0 μg/mL for palmatine and 792.3 μg/mL for jateorrhizine. The sequence of antimicrobial activity of the three BAs is: berberine > palmatine > jateorrhizine. It is suggested that the functional group methylenedioxy or methoxyl at C2 on the phenyl ring could possibly improve antimicrobial activity more strongly than hydroxyl at C2 on the phenyl ring. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 30625042)     

Radial electron-pair densities in momentum space and shell structure of atoms

 The radial electron-pair intracule (relative motion) H(u) and extracule (center-of-mass motion) D(R) densities in position space were known to reveal four types of maxima which are related to the four inner electron shells, K, L, M, and N, of atoms. The corresponding radial electron-pair intracule Hˉ(v) and extracule Dˉ(P) densities in momentum space are studied for the 102 atoms from He (atomic number Z=2) to Lr (Z=103). The densities Hˉ(v) and Dˉ(P) are found to have either one maximum or two maxima, and the numbers of maxima in Hˉ(v) and Dˉ(P) are the same for 98 atoms. For these atoms, the locations υ _max and P _max and the heights Hˉ _max and Dˉ _max of the corresponding maxima satisfy the approximate relations υ _max ≅ 2P _max and Hˉ _max ≅Dˉ _max /2. On the basis of their Z-dependence, the maxima in Hˉ(v) and Dˉ(P) of the 102 atoms are classified into five types. Shell-pair decompositions of the radial densities show that these maxima reflect five outer electron shells of atoms. Received: 24 January 2001 / Accepted: 12 March 2001 / Published online: 13 June 2001     

Ion transport and states of water in charged poly(allylamine) membranes

Cationically charged poly(allylamine) (PAA) membranes having various water contents [0.49 < H < 0.63 (g H₂O/g wet membrane)] were prepared. Sorption and permeation of simple salts (sodium chloride and sodium tetraphenylborate) were investigated, taking into account the state of the water in these membranes. The weight ratios of freezable water and free water to total water (W_fz/W_t, and W_f/W_t) in the membranes were estimated by means of DSC and pulsed ¹H-NMR measurements, respectively. Partition coefficients K for total water were converted into those in freezable and free water, K_fz and K_f, using W_fz/W_t and W_f/W_t. The permeability of both salts in the membranes could be interpreted satisfactorily by an equation derived from the Teorell-Meyer-Sievers theory using values of K_f. The free water is mainly involved in the permeation of simple salts through PAA membranes while bound water hardly takes part.     

Kinetic Study of the Reaction of Leuco Methylene Blue with 2,6-Dimethyl-<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-benzoquinone in a Reverse Micellar System

The kinetics of the reaction of leuco methylene blue (MBH) with 2,6-dimethyl-p-benzoquinone (DMBQ) were studied in a heptane/bis(2-ethylhexyl)-sulfosuccinate (AOT)/water reverse micellar system. The pseudo-first-order rate constant (k _obsd) obtained in the presence of excess of DMBQ was found to be proportional to the initial concentration of DMBQ for W ₀=3, 5, 10, 15 and 20 (W ₀=[H₂O]/[AOT]). The second-order rate constant (k ₂=k _obsd/[DMBQ]₀) increased with an increase in the W ₀ value, but was almost independent of the concentration of the water pool. A mechanism involving the distribution of DMBQ between the reverse micellar interface and bulk organic solvent was proposed to explain these findings.     

Comparison between Different Hydrolysis Processes of Vine-Trimming Waste to Obtain Hemicellulosic Sugars for Further Lactic Acid Conversion

Trimming vine shoot samples were treated with water under selected operational conditions (autohydrolysis reaction) to obtain a liquid phase containing hemicellulose-decomposition products. In a further acid-catalyzed step (posthydrolysis reaction), xylooligosaccharides were converted into single sugars for the biotechnological production of lactic acid using Lactobacillus pentosus. A wide range of temperatures, reaction times, and acid concentrations were tested during the autohydrolysis–posthydrolysis process to investigate their influence on hemicellulose solubilization and reaction products. The maximum concentration of hemicellulosic sugars was achieved using autohydrolysis at 210 °C followed by posthydrolysis with 1% H₂SO₄ during 2 h. Data from autohydrolysis–posthydrolysis were compared with the results obtained at the optima conditions assayed for prehydrolysis (3% H₂SO₄ at 130 °C during 15 min) based on previous works. Prehydrolysis extracted more hemicellulosic sugars from trimming vine shoots; however, the protein content in the hydrolysates from autohydrolysis–posthydrolysis was higher. The harsher conditions assayed during the autohydrolysis process and the higher content of protein after this treatment could induce Maillard reactions decreasing consequently the concentration of hemicellulosic sugars in the hydrolysates. Therefore, despite the several advantages of autohydrolysis (less equipment caused by the absence of mineral acid, less generation of neutralized sludges, and low cost of reagents) the poor results obtained in this work with no detoxified hydrolysates (Q _P = 0.36 g/L h, Q _S = 0.79 g/L h, Y _P/S = 0.45 g/g, Y _P/Sth = 61.5 %) or charcoal-treated hydrolysates (Q _P = 0.76 g/L h, Q _S = 1.47 g/L h, Y _P/S = 0.52 g/g, Y _P/Sth = 71.5 %) suggest that prehydrolysis of trimming vine shoots with diluted H₂SO₄ is more attractive than autohydrolysis-posthydrolysis for obtaining lactic acid through fermentation of hemicellulosic sugars with L. pentosus. Besides the higher hemicellulosic sugars concentration achieved when using the prehydrolysis technology, no detoxification steps are required to produce efficiently lactic acid (Q _P = 1.14 g/L h; Q _S = 1.64 g/L h; Y _P/S = 0.70 g/g; Y _P/Sth = 92.6 %), even when vinification lees are used as nutrients (Q _P = 0.89 g/L h; Q _S = 1.54 g/L h; Y _P/S = 0.58 g/g; Y _P/Sth = 76.1 %).     

Dynamic range and response speed of heat-flux differential calorimeters

A technique for the linearization of calorimeter cell (CC) thermal feedback in differential calorimeters was investigated. The technique was shown to ensure the linearity of the tract of rapid compensation measurements of thermokinetics (W _in(t)) in a dynamic range of heat-fluxes limited in principle only by the linearity of the CCs themselves, while their original identity is not required. The technique was employed in prototype models of updated DAK calorimeters, in which W _in(t)_max reached 0.5 W while the duration of the transition process associated with the insertion of the test specimen was reduced by a factor of 2.3. This was shown to reduce calorimeter inertia, extend the possibilities of thermokinetic measurements, and record earlier stages of the initial thermokinetics.     

Ultimate tensile properties of elastomers. VII. Effect of crosslink density on time–temperature dependence

Data on tensile strength and elongation at break for a series of Viton A-HV vulcanizates are discussed. The data were obtained at various extension rates at temperatures from ?5 to 230°C (25 ? T — T_g ? 260°C) on seven vulcanizates having crosslink densities v_e (estimated from C₁ in the Mooney-Rivlin equation) from 0.46 × 10^?5 to 24.4 × 10^?5 mole/cm³. At an extension rate of 1 min^?1, an increase in v_e affects the tensile strength σ_b (based on the undeformed cross-sectional area) and the true tensile strength σ_bσ_b (based on the cross-sectional area of a deformed specimen) as follows: σ_b is essentially constant at a low temperature; it passes through a decided maximum at intermediate temperatures; and it increases to a plateau at elevated temperatures. In contrast, λ_bσ_b decreases markedly at all temperatures, an exception being the most lightly crosslinked vulcanizate(s). Application of time—temperature superposition to the ultimate-property data gave log a_T; its temperature dependence is that typical of nonpolar rubbery polymers. Data on the vulcanizates were compared in corresponding temperature states by plotting log 273σ_b/T, log 273λ_bσ_b/T, and (λ_b — 1)/(λ_b — 1)_max against logt_b/(t_b)_max, where t_b is the temperature-reduced time to break and (t_b)_max is the value at which the ultimate extension ratio λ_b attains its maximum, (λ_b)_max. Except for the most lightly crosslink vulcanizate, the comparison shows that 273λ_bσ_b/T and (λ_b — 1)/(λ_b — 1)_max are substantially independent of (or only weakly dependent on) crosslink density, that 273λ_b/T increases with v_e, and that 273λ_b/T ∝? v_e^0.6 and λ_b ∝? v_e^?0.4 at a large value of t_b/(t_b)_max.     

Fluorescent microscopic determination of gatifloxacin in milk,injection, human urine,and rabbit serum samples by self-ordered ring technique on glass slides support

A simple and sensitive self-ordered ring (SOR) technique, which was based on the capillary effect of solvent on a hydrophobic glass slide, was successfully applied to the determination of gatifloxacin in milk, injection, human urine and rabbit serum samples. In a medium of pH 3.20 (HAc-NaAc) with the aid of poly(vinyl alcohol)-124 (PVA-124), when 0.50 μL aluminum-sensitized gatifloxacin was dropped on glass slide with dimethyl dichlorosilane (DMCS) pretreated, a typical fluorescent SOR with diameter (2R) of the ring less than ca. 1.77 mm and the belt width (2δ) less than 29.3 μm can be obtained. The solute on the ring belt had strong fluorescence. Data of the imaged SOR showed that the gatifloxacin molecule across the SOR belt section follows a Gaussian distribution. The assay showed that when the droplet volume is 0.1 μL, the SOR method could be used to determine gatifloxacin in the range of 5.61 × 10⁻¹⁴ ∼ 1.50 × 10⁻¹² mol/ring (5.61 × 10⁻⁸∼1.50 × 10⁻⁵ M) and the limit of determination (LOD) reached 5.61 × 10⁻¹⁵ mol/ring (5.61 × 10⁻⁸ M) with three-fold signal-to-noise ratio (S/N = 3).     

Oxygen uptake rate in production of xylitol by Candida guilliermondii with different aeration rates and initial xylose concentrations

The global oxygen uptake rate (OUR) and specific oxygen uptake rates (SOUR) were determined for different values of the volumetric oxygen mass transfer coefficient (15, 43, and 108 h⁻¹), and for varying initial xylose concentrations (50, 100, 150, and 200 g/L) in shaking flasks. The initial cell concentration was 4.0 g/L, and there was only significant growth in the fermentation with the highest oxygen availability. In this condition, OUR increased proportionally to cell growth, reaching maximum values from 2.1 to 2.5 g of O₂/(L·h) in the stationary phase when the initial substrate concentration was raised from 50 to 200 g/L, respectively. SOUR showed different behavior, growing to a maximum value coinciding with the beginning of the exponential growth phase, after which point it decreased. The maximum SOUR values varied from 265 to 370 mg of O₂/(g of cell·h), indicating the interdependence of this parameter and the substrate concentration. Although the volumetric productivity dropped slightly from 1.55 to 1.18 g of xylitol/(L·h), the strain producing capacity (γ _P/X ) rose from 9 to 20.6 g/g when the initial substrate concentration was increased from 50 to 200 g/L. As for the xylitol yield over xylose consumed (γ _P/S ), there was no significant variation, resulting in a mean value of 0.76 g/g. The results are of interest in establishing a strategy for controlling the dynamic oxygen supply to maximize volumetric productivity.     

Two-Dimensional Guanidine-Based Hybrid Perovskites with Strong Dichroism for Multiwavelength Polarization-Sensitive Detection

Two-dimensional (2D) organic–inorganic hybrid perovskites, benefiting from their natural anisotropy of quantum-well motifs and optical properties, have shown remarkable polarization-dependent responses superior to the 3D counterparts. Here, for the first time, multiwavelength polarization-sensitive detectors were fabricated by using single crystals of a guanidine-based 2D hybrid perovskite, (BA)₂(GA)Pb₂I₇ (where BA⁺ is n-butylammonium and GA⁺ is guanidium). Its unique 2D quantum-well structure results in strong crystallographic-dependence of optical absorption. Strikingly, our crystal-based photodetector exhibits a prominent photocurrent dichroic ratio (I_max/I_min) of ∼2.2 at 520 nm, higher than the typical 2D inorganic materials (GeSe, ∼1.09, PdSe₂, ∼1.8). In addition, notable dichroic ratios of 1.29 and 1.23 at 405 nm and 637 nm are also created for the multiwavelength polarized-light detection. The prominent detecting performances, including low dark current (1.6×10⁻¹¹ A), considerable on/off ratio (∼2×10³), high photodetectivity (∼3.3×10¹¹ Jones) and responsivity (∼12.01 mA W⁻¹), make (BA)₂(GA)Pb₂I₇ a promising candidate for polarized-light detection. This work sheds light on the rational engineering of new 2D hybrid perovskites for the high-performance optoelectronic device applications.     

Large-Scale Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Energetic Ni Nanocluster Impact onto the Surface

On the atomic scale, Molecular Dynamics (MD) Simulation of Nano Ni cluster impact on Ni (100) substrate surface have been carried out for energies of E _a = 1–5 eV/atom and total energy of E _T = 195 eV (the total energy of cluster is E _T = nE _a, n is the number of cluster atoms) to understand quantitatively the interaction mechanisms between the cluster atoms and the substrate atoms. The many-body Embedded Atom Method (EAM) was used in this simulation. We investigated the maximum substrate temperature T _max and the time t _max within which this temperature is reached as a function of cluster sizes and the total energy E _T. The temperature T _max is linearly proportional to total cluster energy. For the constant energy per atom and for the cluster size increase, the correlated collisions rapidly transfers energy to the substrate, and the time t _max approached a constant value. For constant total energy the temperature T _max and the time t _max versus different cluster sizes was studied. We showed that the cluster implantation and sputtering atoms from the surface are affected by the cluster size and total kinetic energy of the clusters. Finally time dependence of the number N _dis of disordered atoms in the substrate was observed.     

A New Fluorescein Isothiocyanate-Piperidine Self-ordered Ring Phosphorescent Probe for the Determination of Trace Protein

The ? COOH in fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) reacted with ? NH? in piperidine (P) to form FITC‐P on the center of indentation of polyamide membrane (PAM) when drying for 2 min at (92±1)°C. Then, the FITC‐P diffused outward from the indentation center and formed the round SOR‐P‐FITC (containing the FITC‐P self‐ordered rings). Thus, multi‐FITC accumulated on SOR‐P‐FITC, leading to the enhancement of RTP signal on bio‐target, whose I_p increased 2.0 times compared with non‐generated SOR. When bovine serum albumin (BSA) was added to the center of SOR‐P‐FITC, ? NCS of FITC in SOR‐P‐FITC reacted with ? NH₂ of BSA to form SOR‐P‐FITC‐BSA, which caused the RTP signal of FITC to enhance sharply. The ΔI_p of the system was 3.4 times higher than that without β‐CD and 4.0 times higher than that without SOR‐P‐FITC formed. Its ΔI_p was linear to the content of BSA. Therefore, a new solid substrate‐room temperature phosphorimetry (SS‐RTP) for the determination of trace protein was established using SOR‐P‐FITC as a phosphorescent probe. Under the optimum condition, the linear range of this method was 0.040–16.0 ag·spot^?1 with a detection limit (LD) of 8.5 zg·spot^?1 (0.40 µL sample solution per spot, the corresponding concentration was 2.1×10^?17 g·mL^?1), and the regression equation of working curve was ΔI_p=3.848+4.240m_BSA (ag·spot^‐1), n=6, correlation coefficient (r) was 0.9993. This method with high sensitivity had been applied to determining the content of trace protein in the water samples, and the results coincided well with those obtained with pyrocatechol violet‐Mo(VI) method (P.V.M.M.). At the same time, the mechanism of SS‐RTP using SOR‐P‐FITC as a phosphorescent probe (SOR‐P‐FITC‐SS‐RTP) was discussed.     

Sorbitol can be produced not only chemically but also biotechnologically

Sorbitol, a polyol found in many fruits, is attracting increasing industrial interest as a sweetener, humectant, texturizer, and softener. It is principally produced by chemical means. The bacterium Zymomonas mobilis is able to produce sorbitol together with gluconic acid from fructose and glucose, respectively. This is possible in a one-step reaction via the enzyme glucose-fructose oxidoreductase, so far only known from Z. mobilis. The possibilities for the production of sorbitol by Z. mobilis are discussed also under the aspect of an industrial process and compared with the current chemical as well as other microbiologic processes. The production process by Z. mobilis shows economic possibilities for certain countries, such as Brazil, considering only the products sorbitol and ethanol as an important byproduct. For the other byproduct, gluconic acid, further studies for its partial substitution must be conducted.     

Continuous fermentation studies with xylose-utilizing recombinant Zymomonas mobilis

This study examined the continuous cofermentation performance characteristics of a dilute-acid “prehydrolysate-adapted” recombinant Zymomonas 39676:pZB4L and builds on the pH-stat batch fermentations with this recombinant that we reported on last year. Substitution of yeast extract by 1% (w/v) corn steep liquor (CSL) (50% solids) and Mg (2 mM) did not alter the coferm entation performance. Using declared assumptions, the cost of using CSL and Mg was estimated to be 12.5c/gal of ethanol with a possibility of 50% cost reduction using fourfold less CSL with 0.1% diammonium phosphate. Because of competition for a common sugar transporter that exhibits a higher affinity for glucose, utilization of glucose was complete whereas xylose was always present in the chemostat effluent. The ethanol yield, based on sugar used, was 94% of theoretical maximum. Altering the sugar ratio of the synthetic dilute acid hardwood prehydrolysate did not appear to significantly change the pattern of xylose utilization. Using a criterion of 80% sugar utilization for determining the maximum dilution rate (D _max), changing the composition of the feed from 4% xylose to 3%, and simultaneously increasing the glucose from 0.8 to 1.8% shifted D _max from 0.07 to 0.08/h. With equal amounts of both sugars (2.5%), D _max was 0.07/h. By comparison to a similar investigation with rec Zm CP4:pZB5 with a 4% equal mixture of xylose and glucose, we observed that at pH 5.0, the D _max was 0.064/h and shifted to 0.084/h at pH 5.75. At a level of 0.4% (w/v) acetic acid in the CSL-based medium with 3% xylose and 1.8% glucose at pH 5.75, the D _max for the adapted recombinant shifted from 0.08 to 0.048/h, and the corresponding maximum volumetric ethanol productivity decreased 45%, from 1.52 to 0.84 g/(L·h). Under these conditions of continuous culture, linear regression of a Pirt plot of the specific rate of sugar utilization vs D showed that 4 g/L of acetic acid did not affect the maximum growth yield (0.030 g dry cell mass/g sugar), but did increase the maintenance coefficient twofold, from 0.46 to 1.0 g of sugar/(g of cell·h).     

Preliminary kinetic characterization of xylose reductase and xylitol dehydrogenase extracted from Candida guilliermondii FTI 20037 cultivated in sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate for xylitol production

Candida guilliermondii FTI 20037 was cultured in sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate supplemented with 2.0 g/L of (NH₄)₂SO₄, 0.1 g/L of CaCl₂·2H₂O, and 20.0 g/L of rice bran at 35°C; pH 4.0; agitation of 300 rpm; and aeration of 0.4, 0.6, or 0.8 vvm. The high xylitol production (20.0 g/L) and xylose reductase (XR) activity (658.8 U/mg of protein) occurred at an aeration of 0.4 vvm. Under this condition, the xylitol dehydrogenase (XD) activity was low. The apparent K _M for XR and XD against substrates and cofactors were as follows: for XR, 6.4×10⁻² M (xylose) and 9.5×10⁻³ mM (NADPH); for XD, 1.6×10⁻¹ M (xylitol) and 9.9×10⁻² mM (NAD+). Because XR requires about 10-fold less xylose and cofactor than XD for the condition in which the reaction rate is half of the V _max, some interference on the overall xylitol production by the yeast could be expected.     

Xylose reductase activity of Candida guilliermondii during xylitol production by fed-batch fermentation

Xylose reductase activity of Candida guilliermondii FTI 20037 was evaluated during xylitol production by fed-batch fermentation of sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate. A 2^4-1 fractional factorial design was used to select process variables. The xylose concentrations in the feeding solution (S _F ) and in the fermentor (S ₀), the pH, and the aeration rate were selected for optimization of this process, which will be undertaken in the near future. The best experimental result was achieved at S _F =45 g/L, S ₀=40 g/L, pH controlled at 6.0, and aeration rate of 1.2 vvm. Under these conditions, the xylose reductase activity was 0.81 U/mg of protein and xylitol production was 26.3 g/L, corresponding to a volumetric productivity of 0.55 g/(L·h) and a xylose xylitol yield factor of 0.68 g/g.