The present study was conducted to investigate the influence of initial sucrose concentration, pH and aeration rate on biomass and inulinase production by Kluyveromyces marxianus var. bulgaricus in a stirred batch reactor. Maximum inulinase activity (15.29 UmL-1) was obtained at a sucrose concentration of 10 g L-1, pH 5.0 and aeration rate of 1 vvm. The 20 g L-1 sucrose concentration was suitable for cell growth; however, enzymatic activity at this concentration was inhibited due to catabolic repression. The increase in aeration rate caused a reduction in enzyme activity with no relevant biomass increase.
Kluyveromyces marxianus var. bulgaricus; sucrose; inulinase; biomass; batch fermentation
