Biofabrication of Functional Pullulan by Aureobasidium pullulans under the Effect of Varying Mineral Salts and Sugar Stress Conditions

Abstract

Pullulan is a linear exopolysaccharide, produced in the fermentation media of Aureobasidium pullulans, with a variety of applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Pullulan derivatives have growing potential for biomedical applications, but the high cost of pullulan biofabrication currently restricts its commercial use. Better control over pullulan yield, molecular weight and melanin production by altering fermentation conditions could improve the economics. In this study, the effects of sugar and mineral salt stresses on the pullulan production of A. pullulans ATCC 42023 were examined in batch processes. The chemical structure of the recovered pullulan was characterized by FTIR and NMR spectroscopy, and the molecular weight distribution was obtained via SEC. Pullulan yield and melanin production varied when the conditions were adjusted, and pullulans with different molar masses were obtained. Higher-yield pullulan production and a lower polydispersity index were observed when CuSO4 was added to the fermentation in comparison with the control and with the addition of sugars and other salts. Biofabrication of pullulan under stress conditions is a promising strategy to enhance biopolymer yield and to obtain pullulan with a targeted molecular weight.

Pullulan Production from Sugarcane Bagasse Hemicellulosic Hydrolysate by Aureobasidium pullulans ATCC 42023 inBubble Column Reactor

“…As can be observed, a broad absorption band is observed at 3395.72 cm −1 , which can be attributed to the stretching vibration of hydroxyl groups (-OH) mainly observed in polysaccharide structures. We also noted a weak peak that appeared almost at 2948.48 cm −1 , which could be attributed to the sp3 bonds of the methyl groups [38,39]. Several other high-intensity peaks were also detected at 1607.63, 1417.87, and 1092.69 cm −1 , attributed respectively to the C-O, C-OH, and C-O-C elongation bands of esters [40].…”