Optimizing the Continuous Production of Candida utilis and Saccharomycopsis fibuliger on Potato Processing Wastewater

The yeasts Candida utilis and Saccharomycopsis fibuliger were propagated as a source of single-cell protein in a continuous, mixed, aerobic, single-stage cultivation on blancher water generated during potato processing. A series of steady-state experiments based on a two-level factorial design, half-replicate modified with an intermediate experiment, was performed to determine the effect of pH, 3.8 to 4.8; dissolved oxygen, 42 to 80% saturation; dilution rate, 0.17 to 0.31 h⁻¹; and temperature, 27 to 32°C on the amount of carbon consumed, the rate of carbon consumption (R_c), the amount of reducing sugar consumed, the rate of sugar consumption (R_g), the amount of protein produced, the rate of protein production (R_p), the yield from carbon, and the yield from reducing sugar. The results were analyzed by stepwise multiple regression and Fisher's least significant difference test. Analyses showed that high dilution rates resulted in increased R_c, R_g, and R_p and indicated that a rate of 0.31 h⁻¹ was below the critical dilution rate. A temperature of 32°C increased the amount of carbon consumed by 34%. A pH of 4.3 to 4.8 increased the amount of protein produced. The yield from carbon was constant, and the relatively high yield from reducing sugar indicated that other substrates were consumed. Dissolved oxygen was in excess at 42% saturation and above. Since C. utilis predominated the mixed cultures and amylase production appeared to be limited, a single-stage fermentation lacked efficiency. The experimental design allowed preliminary optimization of major environmental variables with relatively few experiments and provided a basis for future kinetic studies.