The aim of this paper was to study the cadmium (Cd) accumulation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermenting wort of molasses, under sub-toxic levels of controlled cadmium contamination. Fermentation conditions were similar to industrial alcohol production. Non-sterelized wort had 12% of total reducing sugars (w/w) and pH 4.5. For the controlled contamination, two cadmium salts were used (chloride and acetate), at four levels of contamination: 0.5; 1.0; 2.0 and 5.0 mg Cd.kg-1 wort. The inoculation of the wort was carried out with commercial bread yeast (10% w/w). After fermentation (4 hours), samples were evaluated for cellular viability, alcohol content and yeast percentage in the centrifuged wine. The centrifuged yeast cells were evaluated for total fresh and dry weight, total protein, and cadmium concentration by atomic absortion spectroscopy. In all Cd levels, there was cadmium accumulation by yeast and a decrease in ethanol yield.
Saccharomyces cerevisiae; wort of molases; heavy metal; cadmium; atomic absorption spectroscopy
