Study on the production of carotenoids by Rhodotorula glutinis in a molasses-based medium

Carotenoid fermentation by Rhodotorula in a molasses-based medium was studied.The results showed that the optimal acid that had been used to pretreat molasses was sulfuric acid.When Rhodotorula was cultivated by acid-treated effluent from molasses, the maximal biomass of 30.75g/L was obtained, the maximal carotenoid content was 104μg/g, the carotenoid production was 26mg/L, the production of carotenoids by using molasses was 168h.On the basis of the optimal conditions, it was demonstrated that carotenoid yield and biomass fermented by Rhodotorula with molasses as cheap carbon source were 0.97 and 1.04 respectively times higher than that of those fermented with glucose.The optimum dosage of molasses was 170g/L.