Influence of type and concentration of flavinogenic factors on production of riboflavin by Eremothecium ashbyii NRRL 1363

A study was conducted to determine the effect of various low cost organic wastes as flavinogenic factors and the various concentrations at which they induced flavinogenecity resulting in higher yields of riboflavin. A high-yielding riboflavin strain; Eremothecium ashbyii NRRL 1363 was chosen to determine the flavinogenicity. Carbon source at 50 gl−1 (dextrose equivalents) of molasses and nitrogen source at 50 gl−1 (weight/volume) of peanut seed cake were found to be optimal levels to yield higher riboflavin. Among the organic wastes, (beef extract, hog casings, blood meal, fish meal) hog casings in association with fish meal supported the highest yield of riboflavin. Among the different recovery processes studied, a vacuum drying process was the most efficient allowing maximum yield, followed by drying at 90 °C and freeze-drying. It is apparent from this study that inexpensive or waste organic materials could induce E. ashbyii to synthesize and secrete riboflavin at higher levels in the medium and this could be purified using a vacuum drying process. This bioconversion process allows us to recycle the biomaterials and produce a value-added product of economic importance.