Production of Astaxanthin from Corn Fiber as a Value-Added Co-product of Fuel Ethanol Fermentation

• Published in: Applied biochemistry and biotechnology Vol. 154; no. 1-3; pp. 48 - 58
• Main Authors: Nghiem, Nhuan P, Montanti, Justin, Johnston, David
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York New York : Humana Press Inc 01.05.2009; Humana Press Inc; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agricultural biotechnology; arabinose; astaxanthin; Biochemistry; Biofuel production; Biological and medical sciences; Biomass; Biotechnology; byproducts; Carbon - metabolism; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Corn; Energy; enzymatic hydrolysis; Ethanol; Ethanol - metabolism; ethanol fuels; ethanol production; feeds; Fermentation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; hydrolysates; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Kinetics; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; Microbial engineering. Fermentation and microbial culture technology; Phaffia rhodozyma; plant fibers; pretreatment; strains; Sugar; sugars; Sulfuric acid; Xanthophylls - biosynthesis; Yeasts; Yeasts - genetics; Yeasts - metabolism; yields; Zea mays - metabolism; Corn fiber; Lignocellulosic biomass; Astaxanthin; Fuel ethanol co-products; Yeast; Ethanol; Fiber; Corn; Biofuel; Lignocellulosics; Biomass; Fermentation; Fungi; Production; Phaffia rhodozyma; Fungi Imperfecti; Phaffìa rhodozyma
• ISSN: 0273-2289; 1559-0291
• DOI: 10.1007/s12010-008-8399-5

Five strains of the yeast Phaffia rhodozyma, NRRL Y-17268, NRRL Y-17270, ATCC 96594 (CBS 6938), ATCC 24202 (UCD 67-210), and ATCC 74219 (UBV-AX2) were tested for astaxanthin production using the major sugars derived from corn fiber. The sugars tested included glucose, xylose, and arabinose. All five strains were able to utilize the three sugars for astaxanthin production. Among them, ATCC 74219 was the best astaxanthin producer. Kinetics of sugar utilization of this strain was studied, both with the individual sugars and with their mixtures. Arabinose was found to give the highest astaxanthin yield. It also was observed that glucose at high concentrations suppressed utilization of the other two sugars. Corn fiber hydrolysate obtained by dilute sulfuric acid pretreatment and subsequent enzyme hydrolysis was tested for astaxanthin production by strain ATCC 74219. Dilution of the hydrolysate was necessary to allow growth and astaxanthin production. All the sugars in the hydrolysate diluted with two volumes of water were completely consumed. Astaxanthin yield of 0.82 mg/g total sugars consumed was observed.