Production of carotenoids by Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous growing on enzymatic hydrolysates of prehydrolysed wood

Milled wood samples were subjected to acid prehydrolysis under selected operational conditions to remove the hemicellulosic fraction, and the solid residues (directly or after oxidation with NaCIO) were used as substrates for the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose. The glucose solutions obtained were supplemented with nutrients, sterilized and used for culturing the red yeast Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous (formerly Phaffia rhodozyma). Both cell growth and carotenoid production by the yeast were studied in culture media made from hydrolysates. The experimental results showed that the culture media made from hydrolysates are suitable for both proliferation and carotenoid production by the micro-organism studied. The distribution of individual carotenoids (including astaxanthin, canthaxantin, β-carotene and echinenone) in microbial pigments was also studied. © 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd