Utilization of maltose enriched spent grains liquor for xanthan production

Abstract

The present study examines xanthan production by Xanthomonas campestris under aerobic conditions on spent grains liquor based cultivation media containing four different amounts of maltose. All four experiments were performed simultaneously, so that all stages of the biotechnological process would be carried out under identical conditions. In addition to the cultivation parameters (pH value, contents of dissolved oxygen, reducing sugars and assimilable nitrogen, turbidity and trickling time), xanthan yield and sugar conversion percentage were also determined. Based on the results of the experiments maltose addition up to 5% to spent grains liquor does not hinder the cultivation course. On the other hand, the conversion of sugars into xanthan decreases with the increase of maltose content to 5% and a large amount of sugars lags in the cultivation broth.