Fermentation process for preparing erythritol by a high salt tolerant mutant of Candida sp.

Abstract

A fermentation process for preparing a high yield erythritol using a salt tolerant mutant of Candida sp. [ Candida magnoliae SR101:KCCM-10160]. More specifically, the present invention relates to a process for preparing erythritol under optimal fermentation conditions for maximal erythritol production by optimizing the environmental conditions of culture, including medium component, pH, temperature, aeration rate and agitation speed.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A fermentation process for production of erythritol using mutant cells of  Candida magnoliae  SR101 deposited to Korean Culture Center of Microorganism with accession number KCCM-10160 comprising the steps of: 
 a) fermenting monosaccharide or disaccharide medium with cells by controlling following fermentation conditions: 
 i) composition of medium for maximum production of erythritol consists of 10-50 (w/v) % of glucose, 0.2-2.0 (w/v) % of yeast extract, 0.1-10 (w/v) % of KH2P0 4 , 0.1-5.0 (w/v) % of (N 4 ) 2 S0 4  and 0.01-1.0 (w/v) % of MgS0 4 .7H 2 0,  
 ii) pH of culture medium is 6-8,  
 iii) temperature of cultivation is 26-30° C.,  
 iv) aeration rate is 0.75-2.0 volume of air per volume of medium per minute, and  
 v) agitation speed is 300-1200 rpm;  
   b) feeding solution containing KCl continuously or intermittently fed into the culture broth during erythritol production phase to be 2-10% of its concentration;    c) removing cells from the fermentation medium; and    d) separating and recovering erythritol from the fermentation medium of step c).    
     
     
         2 . The cells of  Candida magnoliae  SR101 [KCCM-10160].  
     
     
         3 . A fermentation process for producing of erythritol using mutant cells of  Candida magnoliae  SR101 deposited to Korean Culture Center of Microorganism with accession number KCCM-10160 comprising: 
 a) fermenting monosaccharide or disaccharide medium with cells of the  Candida magnoliae  SR101 deposited to Korean Culture Center of Microorganism; and    b) feeding a solution containing KCl continuously or intermittently fed into the culture broth during erythritol production phase to be 2-10% of its concentration.    
     
     
         4 . The process of    claim 3    wherein the conditions for fermenting the monosaccharide or disaccharide medium are: 
 i) medium composition consisting of 10-50 (w/v) % of glucose, 0.2-2.0 (w/v) % of yeast extract, 0.1-10 (w/v) % of KH 2 P0 4 , 0.1-5.0 (w/v) % of (NH 4 ) 2 S0 4  and 0.01-1.0 (w/v) % of MgS0 4 .7H 2 0,  
 ii) pH of culture medium is 6-8,  
 iii) temperature of cultivation is 26-30° C.,  
 iv) aeration rate is 0.75-2.0 volume of air per volume of medium per minute, and  
 v) agitation speed is 300-1200 rpm.  
 
     
     
         5 . A fermentation process for producing of erythritol using mutant cells of  Candida magnoliae  SR101 deposited to Korean Culture Center of Microorganism with accession number KCCM-10160 comprising: 
 a) fermenting monosaccharide or disaccharide medium with cells of the  Candida magnoliae  SR101 deposited to Korean Culture Center of Microorganism; and    b) feeding a solution containing KCl continuously or intermittently fed into the culture broth.    
     
     
         6 . The process of    claim 5    wherein the conditions for fermenting the monosaccharide or disaccharide medium are: 
 i) medium composition consisting of 10-50 (w/v) % of glucose, 0.2-2.0 (w/v) % of yeast extract, 0.1-10 (w/v) % of KH 2 P0 4 , 0.1-5.0 (w/v) % of (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4  and 0.01-1.0 (w/v) % of MgSO 4 .7H 2 0,  
 ii) pH of culture medium is 6-8,  
 iii) temperature of cultivation is 26-30° C.,  
 iv) aeration rate is 0.75-2.0 volume of air per volume of medium per minute, and  
 v) agitation speed is 300-1200 rpm.  
 
     
     
         7 . The process of    claim 5    wherein the solution containing KCl is continuously or intermittenly fed into the culture broth during the erythritol production phase.  
     
     
         8 . The process of step  5  wherein the solution containing KCl is fed into the culture to be 2-10% of its concentration.