High-density Cultivation and Cryopreservation of Saccharomyces Hansen CBS5926

Production of biomass by fed-batch culture of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Hansen CBS5926, which is used to treat intestinal disorders, was investigated using ethanol as the sole carbon source. Ethanol was a better carbon source than glucose for high cell density culture of the st-rain since it could decrease the frequency of contamination while increasing the efficiency and final productivity of the fermentation process. Under optimal conditions, 38 g/l of dry cell weight with cfu/㎖ of maximum viable cell count was achieved after 72h cultivation. Freeze-drying of the cultured yeast cells resulted in severe reduction of viability. Of the freeze-drying protectants tested, 20% sucrose and 30% lactose were most effective for the preservation of yeast cells with a viability level of 16.3%. A combination of skim milk and lactose with 20% sucrose(w/v) exerted no synergistic influence upo the viability of the cells during cryopreservation by freeze-drying.