Characterization of two substrates fermentation processes for xylitol production using recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae containing xylose reductase gene

Fermentation characteristics of recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae containing the xylose reductase gene from Pichia stipitis were analyzed in an attempt to convert xylose to xylitol, a natural five-carbon sugar alcohol used as a sweetener. Xylitol was produced with a maximum yield of 0.95 (g xylitol/g xylose consumed) in the presence of glucose that is used as a cosubstrate for cofactor regeneration. However addition of glucose caused inhibition of xylose transport and accumulation of ethanol. Such problems were solved by adopting glucose-limlted fed-batch fermentation. This process done with S, cerevisiae EHl3.15:pY2XR at$30\;^{\circ}C$ resulted in 105.2g/L xylitol concentration with maximum productivity of 1.69 g $L^{-1}$ $hr^{-1}$.